Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 23:40:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Jon Beasley-Murray <jpb8-AT-acpub.duke.edu>
Subject: M-I: False Consciousness and Ideology


Justin further takes up my mention (and critique of) the idea of "false 
consciousness," saying that this phrase appears nowhere in Marx, although 
that Marx considered all ideology to be systematically false.

Just to add to the question of ideology (which, I think, is the 
fundamental concern of "Western Marxism" in the C20th, and which is 
closely linked to desire), I thought I'd quote Roberto Schwartz' 
definition of ideology as "an illusion supported by appearances" (14). I 
think that this is another way to contest the idea that ideology is 
constitutively false.  Though it is true, as Schwartz goes on to say, 
that in Europe when the ideologies of universalism and liberalism were 
formulated, they "corresponded to appearances and hid the essential--the 
exploitation of labour" (20), I think it is useful to underline the 
extent to which ideology *does* correspond to appearance, the way in 
which it is not merely a function of domination.

Schwartz, from whose book _Misplaced Ideas_ I've been quoting, a book I 
highly recommend, goes on to discuss the problem of "imported" or 
"misplaced" ideas in Latin America, but this is another topic altogether.

Anyhow, all this but my gloss on Justin's description of ideology as 
"systematically false."

Take care

Jon

Jon Beasley-Murray
Literature Program
Duke University
jpb8-AT-acpub.duke.edu
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~spoons



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