Ideology

Ideology is a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy. It can also be a set of beliefs characteristic of a social group or individual.

Definition

An ideology is a collection of normative beliefs and values that an individual or group holds for other than purely epistemic reasons. The term was coined by Antoine Destutt de Tracy in 1796, who conceived it as the "science of ideas". In contemporary philosophy it is narrower in scope than that original concept, or the ideas expressed in broad concepts such as worldview, imaginary and ontology.

Types of Ideologies

There are many different kinds of ideologies, including political, social, epistemological, and ethical ideologies.

Political Ideologies

Political ideologies are sets of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths, or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.

Social Ideologies

Social ideologies are beliefs or sets of beliefs about what is right in a society and what is wrong. These beliefs are often shared by a group of people and are passed down from generation to generation.

Epistemological Ideologies

Epistemological ideologies are sets of beliefs about the nature of knowledge and reality. They are often associated with philosophical theories about how we know what we know.

Ethical Ideologies

Ethical ideologies are sets of beliefs about what is morally right and wrong. They often guide individuals' actions and decisions.

Criticism

Criticism of ideology, and the concept of ideology itself, are often the subject of dispute, with scholars in various disciplines contesting the nature of what exactly constitutes an ideology.

See Also

• Political Ideology
• Social Ideology
• Epistemological Ideology
• Ethical Ideology

Ideology Resources
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