Single Idea 15664

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

Full Idea

Adorno defines ideology as 'socially necessary illusion' or 'socially necessary false-consciousness' (and the young Habermas accepted something like this definition).

Gist of Idea

Ideology is 'socially necessary illusion' or 'socially necessary false-consciousness'

Source

report of Theodor W. Adorno (works [1955]) by James Gordon Finlayson - Habermas Ch.1:11

Book Reference

Finlayson,James G.: 'Habermas' [OUP 2005], p.11


A Reaction

The marxism seems to reside in the view that such things are always 'false'. If they gradually became 'true', would they cease to be ideology? Is it impossible for widespread beliefs to be 'true'?