Drawing upon classical sources in Hebrew and Chinese (as well as some in Greek and Japanese) Colors of Veracity sets out to expand the “lexicon” for veracity in our time. With poetic attentiveness to connotations and nuance is manifest throughout the book, which redefines both the Jewish understanding of emet (a notion of “truth” that encompasses authenticity) as well as the Chinese commitment to zhen (a vision of the “real” that includes innermost sincerity of the heart-mind in the seeker for veracity). By focusing on the dilemmas of moral conscience embodied by dissidents such as Liu Binyan, ... More

Drawing upon classical sources in Hebrew and Chinese (as well as some in Greek and Japanese) Colors of Veracity sets out to expand the “lexicon” for veracity in our time. With poetic attentiveness to connotations and nuance is manifest throughout the book, which redefines both the Jewish understanding of emet (a notion of “truth” that encompasses authenticity) as well as the Chinese commitment to zhen (a vision of the “real” that includes innermost sincerity of the heart-mind in the seeker for veracity). By focusing on the dilemmas of moral conscience embodied by dissidents such as Liu Binyan, Liu Xiaobo and Vaclav Havel, the book illustrates the courage it takes to pursue veracity out of an inner conviction that truth matters, even if it cannot be mapped in its totality. Veracity is shown again and again to be neither black nor white. No vivid colors such as the red of the Chinese Communist Party (with its official propaganda journal entitled “Seek Truth”) suffice in painting its parameters. Instead, what emerges is a vision of “fractured luminosity” which inspires and sustains the moral conviction of those who pursue truth against all odds, including the inner obstacles of prejudice and self-deceit.