Title: In 1984, what are the three sacred principles of Ingsoc? - eNotes.com
Headings: In
1984
, what are the three sacred principles of Ingsoc?

1984
In 1984, what are the three sacred principles of Ingsoc?
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Content: Orwell, 44)
Winston Smith works in the Ministry of Truth, where he alters and fabricates historical documents to coincide with the Party's current policies. These three principles allow the Party to control, manipulate, and oppress the population of Oceania. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team
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The three main principles of Ingsoc (English Socialism) are expressed in the slogans WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. The significance of these principles, and the reasons for the slogans expressing them, become increasingly apparent to Winston as the story of 1984 progresses. The Party's reasoning (if one can call it that) is that the population can be controlled and manipulated by destroying its power to think and understand reality. In dictatorial regimes, such as the Communist and Fascist countries of Orwell's own time, the rulers always attempted to obliterate the concept of objective truth. Truth, to them, becomes not what people objectively observe as occurring, but instead whatever the government or the "Party" says it is. Orwell's novel is a projection into the future of what was already happening in the nightmare world of the 1930's and 40's. The statements that "War is Peace," and "Freedom is Slavery," since they are direct self-contradictions and make no sense, are intended to negate the concept of logic. They are also examples of doublethink, the ability to hold two contradictory ideas in the mind and believe both of them simultaneously, as the Party desires people to do, including its own members.