What is an ideology?

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"What is, or was, ideology? Dictionaries define it as a “system” of ideas and beliefs people hold that motivate their political action. But the metaphor is inapt. All practical activity, not just political activity, involves ideas and beliefs. An ideology does something different: it holds us in its grasp with an enchanting picture of reality." -- Mark Lilla, "The truth about our libertarian age," The New Republic





Comments

  1. Unknown12:34 AM

    Gene,

    How would you say religion differs from ideology? I'm guessing that you hold the two in separate categories ....

    ReplyDelete

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