# Fiction-absolute

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The concept of **fiction-absolute** exists within the contexts of [anthropology](/source/Anthropology), and the study of [group psychology](/source/Group_psychology) and [tribalism](/source/Tribalism).

The term was coined and defined by [journalist](/source/Journalist) [Tom Wolfe](/source/Tom_Wolfe) in his 2006 [Jefferson Lecture](/source/Jefferson_Lecture) for the [National Endowment for the Humanities](/source/National_Endowment_for_the_Humanities).[2] Wolfe defined it as the irrational propaganda an [individual](/source/Individual), [tribe](/source/Tribe) or [social group](/source/Social_group) employs to explain why the individual is better than others, or why the tribe or group is the best of all groups and its people the best people. The term itself indicates that it is absolutist in that it defines in stark terms why an individual is superior, or why members should prefer a tribe, and necessarily fictional because it is propaganda (although it may have some basis in truth). The fiction-absolute is essentially a [tribe](/source/Tribe)'s core propaganda, and can lead to [intolerance](/source/Toleration) and forms of [collective action](/source/Collective_action).

The fiction-absolute not only necessitates a harsh view of other groups, but also of unaffiliated people and [individualists](/source/Individualist).

## References

1. David Gordon (May 23, 2006). ["Tom Wolfe and the 'Fiction-Absolute'"](https://mises.org/wire/tom-wolfe-and-fiction-absolute). *Mises Institute*

1. ["Tom Wolfe Lecture"](https://www.neh.gov/about/awards/jefferson-lecture/tom-wolfe-biography). *[National Endowment for the Humanities](/source/National_Endowment_for_the_Humanities)*. [Archived](https://archive.today/20120805082809/http://www.neh.gov/about/awards/jefferson-lecture/tom-wolfe-lecture) August 5, 2012 at the Wayback Machine.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fiction-absolute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction-absolute) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction-absolute?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.