Does George Orwell’s imposition of “2+2=5” in his novel 1984 show that truth can be manipulated? Is reality determined by power?
The dogma of “2+2=5” in George Orwell’s novel 1984 raises a profound philosophical question about how truth can be reconstructed by the discourse of power. This statement is not only the propaganda of a totalitarian regime, but also leads us to question fundamental philosophical issues such as epistemological reality, the dominance of power over truth, and the autonomous consciousness of the individual.
- “2+2=5” and the Construction of Truth: Reality in a Post-Truth World
In Orwell’s dystopia, the Party imposes the principle that “everything the government says is true,” rejecting even a universal and objective truth such as mathematics. This situation can be discussed in the context of postmodern epistemology and social constructionism:
Social Constructionism: If reality is shaped by social consensus, can power create a new “reality” by manipulating this consensus?
The Collapse of the Principle of Objectivity: Mathematics is seen as an absolute truth in Kant’s “synthetic a priori” category. However, the Party destroys this and constructs a world where there is no absolute truth.
The Post-Truth Age: Orwell seems to have foreseen today’s strategies of fake news, perception management and disinformation. Can power really shape collective consciousness through media and propaganda?
- The Relationship Between Power and Truth: A Foucauldian Reading
Michel Foucault’s theory of “power/knowledge” is key to understanding the manipulation of truth in 1984:
Regimes of Truth: According to Foucault, every power creates its own “regime of truth.” In 1984, the Party controls the past by rewriting history. This is not the “end of history,” but the “continuous rewriting of history.”
Disciplinary Society and Surveillance: Big Brother’s surveillance overlaps with Foucault’s concept of the panopticon. People discipline themselves, knowing that they are constantly being watched.
Language and Power: Newspeak is how language limits thought. Wittgenstein’s words “The limits of my language are the limits of my world” come into play here: If the concept of “freedom” does not exist in language, people cannot even think about freedom.
- The Individual’s Test with Reality: Winston’s Tragedy
Winston Smith believes in the existence of objective reality, but O’Brien tries to convince him that “2+2=5”. The philosophical conflict here:
Cartesian Doubt: The principle of “I think, therefore I am” is a refuge for Winston. However, the Party takes over his mind and destroys this self-confidence.
The Collapse of Enlightenment Reason: Kant’s concept of the “thing in itself” (noumenon) is destroyed by the Party. There is no longer external reality, only what the Party dictates.
Free Will and Mental Surrender: Winston finally surrenders, saying, “I love Big Brother.” Is this the collapse of free will in the face of absolute authority? Or is it an acceptance that reality is ultimately determined by power?
- Is Reality a Tool in the Hands of Power?
Orwell’s 1984 shows how totalitarianism can rewrite truth, while also questioning the limits of human reason.
If power controls knowledge, language, and history, can reality be objective?
Is there such a thing as absolute truth, or is everything just the rhetoric of power?
Does Winston’s collapse show the limits of the human spirit’s resilience, or is it proof that power will prevail under all circumstances?
Orwell’s dystopia is a warning that still rings true in today’s context of authoritarianism, media manipulation, and post-truth politics. “2+2=5” is not just a mathematical error, but a symbol of the tragic defeat of human reason in the face of power.
From this perspective, the answer to the question of whether reality is determined by power is, unfortunately, in the world of 1984, “Yes”—at least, as long as people choose to obey.
