Ideology is the study of ideas and how people think about the world. It can encompass shared beliefs of a group and differentiate between different groups of thought. Ideology can become philosophy when ideal concepts are set forth. Common sense ideology is about protecting individuals and communities. Within ideology, there is normally a range of beliefs.
Ideology translates into science or the study of ideas. However, ideology tends to refer to how people think about the world and their ideal concept of how to live in the world. This is slightly different from philosophy in that ideology encompasses the concept that one’s ideals are the best way.
Philosophy, on the other hand, can examine how ideology affects others from a more distant perspective. Philosophy, however, can become ideology when a philosopher sets forth ideal concepts for how people should live. Plato’s Republic, for example, is his ideology of the best way to proceed in life.
The term ideology can also be used to describe the shared beliefs of a group of people, such as a nation, a sect of a religion, or a group of theorists. The term was probably first coined by the French philosopher, Comte Destutt de Tracy, who used the term in the 1700s to describe the more specific definition of the science of ideas.
Today the term ideology is used in so many ways that it is often difficult to know how to describe it. In some ways, the common and shared beliefs of a community can be considered its common sense ideology. For example, a group of people who live near wilderness might share the ideology that it is unwise to venture into the bush alone and at night. Conversely, city dwellers, for the most part, might believe that it makes sense to look both ways before crossing a street. Common sense ideology is often about protecting the individual and the community as a whole.
Ideology can be used in a more specific sense to differentiate between different groups of thought. The ideological differences between the Sunni and Shia factions of Islam are a matter of great debate. Understanding these competing ideologies allows for greater insight into how to deal with cultures with which one has hostile or peaceful contact.
In US politics, the term ideology can separate the difference between Democrat and Republican, and those who share the ideology of one group over another are likely to vote accordingly. A culture usually has multiple political ideologies, some less popular than others. Many find it difficult to see beyond the two competing ideologies to examine other political ideologies present in the culture. For example, few libertarians, Green Party members, or peace and freedom ideologues are elected, since most think only in terms of Democratic and Republican candidates.
Within ideology, there is normally a range of beliefs. Some Catholics, for example, strongly believe in all church teachings, while others believe that issues such as birth control, priests’ freedom to marry, or concepts about sin in general are outdated. These more liberal Catholics feel as much a part of the church as more fundamental Catholics. So the examination of an ideology must allow for variation.
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