Truth and catastrophe in the algorithmic present

Abstract

This article explores how truth and the value we assign to it are transformed in the context of the present algorithmic era, using a critical approach based on the ideas of Michel Foucault. It proposes a reinterpretation of truth from the perspective of catastrophe, moving away from the conventional concept of crisis, to rethink representation and its implications in contemporary society.

Beginning with a review of the philosophical concept of truth and its post-Foucault evolution, the work focuses on the analysis of catastrophe as a means to think about parrhesia in the digital age. It questions whether a space of ungovernability is still possible in a world dominated by algorithms, and how this challenges our understanding of emancipation and critique.

The conclusion invites a reconsideration of representation and a possible emptiness, questioning the possibility of ungovernable spaces and the nature of subjectivity in an algorithmic era. It advocates for a vigilant and critical look at how and what we think, exploring the possibility of a revolt and an intimate relationship with ourselves beyond the influence of digital “echo chambers.” The article seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the interaction between truth, power, and technology in contemporary political philosophy.