What’s Wrong with Ideology?
What is “ideology,” why is it always assumed to be negative, and do I have one?
Well, let’s go to the dictionary:
1. the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.
2. such a body of doctrine, myth, etc., with reference to some political and social plan, as that of fascism, along with the devices for putting it into operation.
I don’t see anything particularly negative in that, other than the gratuitous mention of “fascism” in #2.
Picking apart #1– You had better have some beliefs to guide you if you don’t want to end up where you don’t want to be. It is better to have true beliefs than ones based on lies, but if you start going in bad directions, that should be a sign that your beliefs are wrong and need to be replaced.
And, in regard to #2, if you have beliefs which are guiding you, and you want to actually accomplish something, I think it would be best to have a plan and a way to follow that plan. (Unless your beliefs are fascist/socialist/statist, then I’d prefer you have no plan and just wing it ’til you fail.)
Another definition says:
a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Again, no problem. Unless you violate others due to your “ideas and ideals.” And, of course, politics in the real world is always a violation of others.
So, really, I see no problem in and of itself with having an ideology. And yes, I have at least one ideology.
So why does “ideology” get such a bad reputation?
Because so many people start forming ideologies without the foundation of Zero Archation. If you start wrong, it’s going to get worse. If you are guided by a doctrine, myth, belief, or whatever that doesn’t inform you that you have no right to archate, then anything is permissible as you strive toward your goal. You’ll end up eating babies and thinking nothing of it. Don’t be like that.