Ideology and the IdeologistsThe revival of ideology, which began early in the second half of the last century, has led to reconsideration of the following questions: What underlies the pattern of the rise and decline of the ideological mode of thought? What leads young intellectuals to search for an ideology? What accounts for the changes in ideological fashion over time and nation, and shifts from one set of philosophical tenets to another? Who indeed are the ""intellectuals?"" Studies of ideology have tended to range themselves for or against particular viewpoints, or have concerned themselves with defining perspectives. The purpose of this book is to examine the common causal patterns in the development of various differing ideologies. Feuer finds that any ideology may be said to be composed of three ingredients: The most basic and invariant is some form of Mosaic myth. Every ideology also has its characteristic philosophical tenets spreading from left to right, which conform to the cycle of ideas; and, finally, an ideology must be taken up by some section of the population who can translate it into action. Intellectuals in generational revolt find in some version of the ideological myth a charter and dramatization of their emotions, aims, and actions. Since each generation of intellectuals tends to reject its predecessors' doctrines, a law of intellectual fashion arises the alternation of philosophical doctrines. Ideology has inevitably made for an authoritarian presumption on the part of master-intellectuals and marginal ones and assumes their antagonism to objective truth and science. It is Feuer's contention that only when intellectuals abandon ideology in favor of science or scholarship will an unfortunate chapter in the history of human unreasonbe overcome. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
affirmed alternative American anarchist anti-Semitism authoritarian became become Bernstein Bertrand Russell bourgeois civilization Communist conception de-ideologization defined democratic dialectical dictatorship doctrine economic elite emotional Engels Essays ethical experience fascist Feuer figures filled finally find first French Friedrich Engels Hegelian historic mission human Ibid idealism ideas ideological myth ideologists ideology influence Jewish Jews John John Dewey John Strachey Kant’s Karl Marx Kropotkin later Lenin Leon Trotsky liberal logic London Marcuse Marx’s Marxist master-intellectual metaphysical mode of thought moral Mosaic myth movement nation Nazi neo-tribal official one’s party philosophical tenets political pragmatism primitivist principle proletariat prophet reality reflection regarded religion repressed Revolution revolutionary Roman Saint-Simonians scientific scientists sense significance social science socialist society sociological Soviet Stalin standpoint struggle student theory tion totalitarian transcendentalists truth unconscious universe utilitarian Victoria Woodhull wave William English Walling women writings wrote York Young Hegelians young intellectuals youth