If we were to set out to write a history of the concept of truth, whatever that may be, we would inevitably find that it is closely followed by its most faithful shadow. We could call it a lie, but what if instead we were to propose that this "shadow of truth" is perhaps not a direct opposite of truth, as the lie tends to be defined, but rather an imitation of it – an imitation that seeks to usurp the place of truth and to present itself as such in one way or another. In the seminar we will discuss the notion of trickery in relation to one of the most notorious figures that are described to wield its power – the figure of the Devil – whose deceitfulness seems to be best displayed in all its splendour through a contractual relationship with the one who perhaps naively thinks it is possible to make a deal with it.

Marisa Žele, PhD, is a research assistant at the Institute of Philosophy, ZRC SAZU. Her research focuses on the historical and epistemological conditions of ideas, which she considers the centre of her studies, within their respective histories and their relation to philosophy. Her main areas of research are epistemology, history of ideas, post-structuralism and theoretical psychoanalysis.

February 12, 16h15–18h00, Swedish time [CET]

Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/68416412955