French Literature Reviews - 2026

Étienne Barilier, Après la vérité
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas

Is lying an absolute evil? Can it not sometimes serve a greater good or a higher truth? From Saint Augustine to Vladimir Jankélévitch, via Pascal and Kant, this question has long divided thinkers. Perhaps, under certain circumstances, a virtuous or even sacrificial lie does exist. Yet one thing is certain: lying does not abolish truth. On the contrary, it illuminates truth with its dark light, serving at the very least to make it stand out by contrast.

And yet, our century has completely altered this dynamic, replacing the lie with what is known as "post-truth." We no longer simply lie; we manufacture alternative truths and disposable simulacra. Reality itself then slips away beneath our feet. Some of the most influential political figures shaping the course of the world are actively working to accelerate this evasion.

Is there no remedy for this misfortune? Through a brief history of the lie in dialogue with Homer, Molière, and Rousseau, this reading demonstrates both that post-truth is unlike any ordinary lie, and that our culture still provides us with the spaces and resources needed to resist its ravages.

The philosophical inquiry into the nature of deception has historically occupied a central place in Western thought, often pitting moral absolutism against situational ethics. By engaging with figures like Saint Augustine, Kant, and Jankélévitch, the text situates the traditional lie as a complex moral dilemma that acknowledges the existence of an objective reality. This historical trajectory highlights how the act of lying has long been understood as a deviation from truth, rather than a totalizing replacement of it, contrasting with the modern phenomenon where the concept of a shared reality is challenged.

The current political and cultural landscape is characterized by the emergence of post-truth, a condition where the manufacture of alternative narratives affects the stability of public discourse. By drawing on literary and philosophical touchstones such as Homer, Molière, and Rousseau, the work distinguishes this contemporary evasion from traditional forms of falsehood. It suggests that cultural traditions may still offer a framework for critical resistance. Readers interested in the intersection of ethics, politics, and the history of ideas may find this reflection relevant.