POLS 1000 Midterm: Lecture 13 - 6 Point Definition and 2 Dangers of Ideology (no lecture 12, lecture 12 was midterm exam)

• School: York University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 1000
• Professor: Martin Breaugh

Document Summary

Rising of the merchant class, bourgeoisie, earn a living producing/selling things for profit: practical, new ethic, good and useful. Bring changes to philosophy, philosophers will have to be more aware of human needs and capacities. Fully flourished during 18th century, enlightenment: through reason, human beings can become autonomous, we all have an idea of how we lead our own lives informed liberal thought. Inventor of the term ideology, antoine destutt de tracy, suggest replace philosophy with ideology, because it"s tied to christian thought. Napoleon attack the ideologist (dreamers, utopians, makers of ideas), ban the teaching of moral and political sciences. Justify the interest of social class by presenting their particular class of interest as universal and even necessary for human well being. E. g. conservative ideology, social hierarchy is good and natural because they ensure the happiness of all, giving a stable structure. Offer a fixed identity, peasants are peasants. Emphasis on social hierarchy corresponds to a particular class interest.