Ideology and Truth
Ideology and Truth

Summary/Abstract: That there is a truth-claim in every proper ideology and that such a claim can be assessed rationally is something many people would find unacceptable. But this should not be the case. Richard Bernstein, for example, rejects what he treats as two conceptions of ideology and argues that “ideologies are based upon beliefs and interpretations which purport to be true or valid. These beliefs and interpretations are consequently subject to rational criticism.” Part of the aim of this essay is to offer an argument showing that there is a positive relationship between ideology and truth. This is done on the basis of a conception of ideology which I consider as “political”. Ideology is the expression of an adherence to a theory (beliefs) for a politically conceived or defined social goal. “Political”, precisely because political power is to be secured and manipulated to attain the goal. The expression has two vital elements, the belief element and the normative element.

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