What Is Ideology - Essay Example

Nuda Thamkongka Critical Study A Thea Q. Tagle February 17th (Rewrite) Ideology What is Ideology? According to Webster’s dictionary; “ideology: 1. Visionary theorizing. 2a. : Systematic body of concepts esp. about human life or culture, 2b. : A manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture, 2c. : The integrated assertions, theories, and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program.” Idea is a collective box of goods, if you will. It contains elements of logic, fact, information, and knowledge.  Idea usually has traces of modification (to the situation, weather to improve or to make changes). Ideology is a collective of this ingredient. The difference between an idea and ideology is that; an does not have believers. Meanwhile Ideology has believers.  A religion begins with an idea, when that idea captures attentions, then it becomes ideology. When an ideology has believers and followers, who are willing to act upon the idea then it changes to religions. Much like political movement or changes in anthropology, it always begins with someone thought. A thought with a consideration and then it is converted into a belief.     In the current society the terms ‘idea’ and reasons are common in different places such as among: Friends, family, school, work places. However no one really thinks of it and how it was made or what ideas and ideology is composed of it. In countries characterized by political activities, campaigns are usually distributed and commercialized in the media, they usually use the word “We needed this change” and they tell us all about why or how the targeted populace will gain from it. These changes are believed to be beneficial towards the believers; however, the reality is that, they benefit their composers who do not mention this during campaigns and in the advertisements. Changes cannot happen without being implemented by human efforts, they must inventors, motivators, or else they can be as well considered visionary ideals. A ‘change’ is a community product the sense that it facilitates the success of the targeted group, group of people, or a nation. Taking example of people such as; Adolf Hitler, Kim Jong il, Mao Zedong, Alexander the Great, or Genghis Khan, they all had their own vision of what a ‘good world’ is. They had great ideas that made senses in regard to logic as well as the view-points. They rose to power and directed their efforts towards convincing people to follow their ideas to the latter. For better or worse, these people made changes, which started from their ideas. Owing to the fact that ideology contains elements of change, in some cases, it is may be viewed as a negative facet in regard to the norms of the society. Ideology like religion, political movements, moral and science change from time to time. The process basically entails existence of an idea, which later becomes a ‘normal’ aspect of the society and becomes more acceptable, specifically after being comprehended. Ideology cannot be based on self benefit or nonsense, but it has to exhibit both rationality and benefits to the believers. By providing rationality, the ideology has to contain reason, logic, and information, it makes the idea more possible in a realistic senses, and more portable to the listener’s brain.   The visionary isn’t just a fancy word for describe people who can see, but it descried people who understand the possibilities of an idea i.e. an ideology born from a fourth dimension that has not been proved. A visionary must contains many skills in order to create an idea and make it into something more, perhaps something great. A visionary often is also a leader, in idea and in real life. A type of person who has principle at the top, the vision and goals, then he or she would utilize tools, recourses (like knowledge or people) to get to the destination. They know what they want and they will not stop until it is done. Although, ideology often have much less probability of succession because it is a ship that sails against the currents as most people would see it, but the visionary and the believers, once hooked on the idea, they are a hungry dog with a bone that will not let go.  In addition, the current society has been characterized by certain aspects that have led to variation in ideologies as well as other modes of thinking. According to Theordre and Max, there are contemporary sociological perceptions that have led to a shift in manner through, which people perceive culture and religion. They assert that this is ascribed to the fact that there is a high rate of introduction of new modes of thinking due to increased globalization and cultural assimilation. Keller & Durham also identifies the influence of culture on ideas as they assert that “Cultures in today’s society constitute a set of discourse, images, spectacles and stories as well as cultural forms that facilitate the creation of identity together with political effects” In regard to Karl Max’s mode of thinking, he believed that ideologies and ideas do cannot be independent as compared to idealism, which can exist independently. He asserts that ideas and idealism are usually based on material facets such as; economic facets as well as social facets. Moreover, the existence of ideas and ideologies among human beings is great aspect that differentiates humans from other animals. Max believes that ideologies and ideas are central structures that unite human beings. He also believes that ideologies, ideas, ways through which people perceive issues et cetera are usually results of historical situations. The major economic structures and processes of economic development are facets of ideology and ideas. Ideas that have been used to facilitate economic development in the past and current society are: Communism, feudalism as well as capitalism. They are basically ideas that Max refers to as economic base. This is followed by superstructures of socio base that are also based on ideas and play key roles in regard to management of social issues. In addition, these superstructures have been used to create scenarios where people do not see the injustices i.e. in the case of Adolf Hilter, who brainwashed majority of the Germans; thus hindering them from realizing his bias towards the Jews. In one of his major writings about ideology he asserts that “the ideas of ruling class are in every epoch class of society i.e. the class which is ruling the material force of society is at the same time ruling its intellectual force”. Conclusion Ideology has been viewed and discussed from various and broad perspectives; philosophers like Karl Max among others have given different elaborate explanations. However, their modes of explanations are entirely personal views and can be modified from time to time owing to the fact that ideas and opinions are usually subject to change among different cultures and social structures. Despite the fact that ideas generate from a single source and change overtime does not mean that they cannot be subject to change majorly due to the fact people have varying views and understanding in regard to social, political, economic as well as environmental issues.     Works Cited Bruce, Burret and Glen Handler. Keywords for American Cultural Studies. NewYork and London: New York University Press, 1990. Kamenka, Eugine. Karl Marx Selected Translated in Part. Chicago: Penguine Books, 1986. Williams, Raymond. Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society, Revised Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Webster’s Dictionary "the cultural studies reader." : Ideology according to Marx – definition and explanation. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. . Horkheimer, Max, and Theodor W. Adorno. Dialectic of enlightenment. New York: Herder and Herder, 1972. Print. Read More