Full Idea
This unconditional will to truth: what is it? Is it the will not to let oneself be deceived? Is it the will not to deceive?
Gist of Idea
Is the will to truth the desire to avoid deception?
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (The Gay (Joyful) Science [1882], §344)
A Reaction
He is hunting for the evolutionary origin of the love of truth, in the needs of a community. In that sense, I would have thought it was just the pressure to get the facts right, because error is dangerous. Nice thought, though.
Book Reference
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Joyful Science, and 1881-82 fragments (v 6)', ed/tr. Del Caro,Adrian [Stanford 2023], p.208