1.What is ideology？
In my opinion, ideology is not an exact theory, it is merely a tool for people to make different decisions that they consider as right and beneficial. We rely on a compass-ideology that doesn’t show us the whole landscape, but it gives us a direction. Without it, we would have to analyze every single issue from growing up, which is impossible. With it, we can quickly sort information into categories like “fair” or “unfair”, “smart” or “risky”, “moral” or “immoral.”
The reading shows how it works in real life. Conservatives and liberals have different answers for the same question, which is because they use different tools. For instance, the article points out that conservatives want to reduce spending on social programs like minimum wage and food stamps, but they strongly support increasing subsidies for large enterprises. The reason for that is not simply anti-government, it is their ideology-the tool tells them which direction is correct.
Althusser’s video shows another aspect with ideology-he argues that we gain the ideology through daily life and institutions. His concept of “interpellation” means we are hailed by ideology, and when we respond, we become a certain kind of person without realizing it. We learn the ideology through family, social media or surroundings. We don’t choose our tools from a shelf-we pick them up from the environments we grow up in.
2.The difference between conservative and liberal
From my perspective, the big difference between conservative and liberal ideology is individual responsibility vs social responsibility, and freedom vs fairness.
Conservatives emphasize individual responsibility. They consider your own behavior to shape your own life, so people should take their own responsibility. They also value freedom, which is free from government interference.
Liberals emphasize social responsibility. They think people start from different steps, so society has a responsibility to help them. They value fairness, not just equal opportunity, it’s making sure the outcome isn’t totally unfair.
For example, the student loans and college tuition. A conservative might say”College is a personal choice, they should pay for it by themselves. I don’t want to pay your fee with my taxes” A liberal might say “Education is beneficial to everyone, so the government should invest more in college.” Same question, but different tools.
So the dividing line is where you think the problem is and what solution you think about. Conservative blame individuals, look to the market and personal effort. Liberals blame systems, look to government and group actions.
3.Althusser’s definition of ideology
Althusser thinks the ideology is we take the things around us for granted and never stop to wonder why. We don’t think about it because we live in it during our whole lives.
For example, going to a good college and getting a good job is my own goal. However, is it the goal I actually want? I’ve been told these since I was a kid-by my parents, my teachers, and everything around me. I never think about whether I really want this? What are the other options? I never question it, and it’s exactly the ideology that is working. It made a social expectation feel like my own choice.
