Philosophy

My notion of ideology comes from Althusser's more complex reading of Marx' notion that ideology comes from the "imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence," and that this ideology primarily comes from hegemonic "Ideological State Apparatuses" such as our churches/synagogues, governments and government ideologies (including our constitution), and Capitalism-promoting institutions (or dominant ideology of the culture). Althusser goes on to assert that this "relationship" manifests itself in our material actions since our beliefs and material bodies manifesting them are inherently intertwined.

So, a person is "swimming" in ideology promoted by ISA's and their "inhabitants"--mom and dad first--from their moment of birth. He or she reproduces, refashions, and manifests these ideologies throughout their mental and physical life. As I told the above poster, I'm open to scientific proof that one can act or think free of Ideology as I am open to scientific proof of God. I just haven't seen or heard either yet.