Western-centric and Russian-centric views of Truth exist in fundamentally different epistemological universes: a cognitive division that stems from the rationalism of the Enlightenment, compared to the Byzantine Orthodox concept of “Sophia”. The article examines how a clash between the Western concept of Truth as an objective, empirically verifiable search for knowledge through reason (Kant, 1784/1996) and Russian epistemology, which places a strong focus on holistic wisdom, spiritual insight, and ideological coherence (Florensky, 1914/1997), causes conflict. The epistemic gap itself creates structurally open conditions for disinformation tactics and information operations. While rational discourse in the West assumes a commitment to truth-seeking, Russian strategic communication thrives in a paradigm, where Truth is instrumental, subordinated to power, and ultimately pluralistic in Nietzschean terms (Nietzsche, 1873/1979). In part inspired by philosophy (Kant, Heidegger, Foucault), theology (Florensky, Lossky), and security studies (Giles, 2016; Pomerantsev, 2014), the article details the friction between Enlightenment rationality and Slavophile Eurasianist holism and its impact forn the current information threats. In particular, the analysis illustrates how this bifurcation facilitates the adoption of both disinformation tactics and reflexive control techniques (Thomas, 2004) that exploit Western epistemological presuppositions. And familiarity with this gap is crucial for constructing effective response models and enhancing democratic resilience in the face of hybrid threats and interferences.
Marianna Prysiazhniuk (Thu,) studied this question.