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Single Idea 24311

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 1. Ideology]

Full Idea

In general ideologists inevitably put the thing upside-down, and regard their ideology both as the creative force and as the aim of all social relations, whereas it is only an expression and symptom of these relations.154

Gist of Idea

Ideologists think their theories drive social forces, when they are actually mere symptoms

Source

Karl Marx (Collected works (w Engels) - 50 vols [1860], Vol 5: 419-20), quoted by Jaime Edwards/Brian Leiter - Marx 5.1

A Reaction

Marx can't seem to decide whether ideologists are actively duplicitous, or merely misguided. I presume the latter, since Marxists tend to assume that no one (apart from Marxists?) is aware of their own biases.

Book Reference

Edwards,J/Leiter,B: 'Marx' [Routledge 2025], p.154