The Ideological Criticism On Identity Thinking

Althusser's theory of ideology occupies a very important position in Althusser's whole theory. The research on Althusser's theory of ideology in domestic and foreign academic circles generally follows several paths: text interpretation, the specific content of research, methodology, the nature of the theory and thematic studies. Basing on interpretation of Althusser's text, this dissertation attempts to draw on the existing academic research results, and elucidates Althusser's theory of ideology in the whole context of traditional metaphysics. Furthermore, this dissertation demonstrates Althusser's theory of ideology from the topic of the ideological criticism on identity thinking, which clarifies the differences between Althusser's early theory and the latter theory of ideology and unifies them into one thing. On this foundation, this dissertation tries to read Althusser's texts through Althusser's symptomatic reading, and reveal Althusser's implicit silence. This is a theoretical attempt. It aims to unify Althusser's theory of ideology into this theoretical framework, and illuminate the development of the ideology as well as philosophy through the revelation of silence.It is a brand new perspective to demonstrate Althusser's theory of ideology from the angle of criticizing identity thinking. Althusser's early theory and the latter theory of ideology can be comprehended consistently from the above angle,whether it is theoretical ideology or ideology in true life. That is to say, they both criticize identity thinking and believe that identity thinking leads to control and repression. The ideological criticism on identity thinking is the core value of Althusser's theory of ideology. The epistemological analysis on identity thinking leads to the conclusion of antagonism between ideology and science. At the later time, Althusser puts forward the theory of ideological state apparatus through the analysis on the power of identity thinking. Therefore, the ideological criticism on identity thinking is fundamentally significant in Althusser's theory of ideology, whether it is from the epistemology or function. Moreover, Althusser's theory of ideology will come out from the corner and become a key element to understand the whole history of the metaphysics, and it can provide us with useful suggestions on the existence of metaphysics and our true life. Within the above topic and target, this dissertation is divided into six interrelated parts.Introduction:'The criticism on"identity thinking"is an important perspective of our research on Althusser's ideological theory'. This part mainly clarifies academic research and its path for Althusser's theory of ideology. It also clarifies the relationship between Althusser's critique of ideology and'identity thinking'critique. On this foundation, it points out that criticism on identity thinking occupies a very important position in Althusser's theory of ideology. Then the topic of this dissertation that is to analyze Althusser's theory of ideology standing on the position of criticism on identity thinking can be built on a solid foundation.Chapter 1:'the premise and method of the ideological criticism on identity thinking'. Pseudo-subject, problématique and symptomatic reading are the premise and method of the ideological criticism on identity thinking. Meanwhile, the criticism on absolute inherent robustness of subject and innocent reading is also an integral part of the content of Althusser's ideological criticism on identity thinking, because it gets rid of identity mirage of subject and reading.Chapter 2:'the performances of the concept"identity thinking"and their ideological criticism'. The concept of metaphysics, the understanding way of'classical political economy plus Hegel equals to Marx'as well as a variety of ideological reading of Marxism are the performances of the concept'identity thinking'. They constitute theoretical targets of Althusser's criticism on identity thinking. These theories share a common premise: understanding objects equal to true objects. So they put the science of understanding objects back into true objects, and come to the society and continuous development of history as a whole identity with the unity method of history and logic. This identity thinking just refers to the safeguard for understanding whether it is safeguard of law or guarantee of truth, however, the mechanism of understanding is hidden. The social organism and the complex structure of history are smoothed into the extension of the plane space by the reduction and displacement of concept of identity thinking. This is to imagine the reality, while Althusser wants to understand things truly.Chapter 3:'the theoretical results of Althusser's ideological criticism on identity thinking'. Althusser makes the ideological criticism on identity thinking, and gets revolutionary insights into various fields including epistemology, dialectics, history, social theory, ethics and drama theory. This revolution requires the removal of the false illusion of ideology, and comes to the conclusion of science in the course of revealing ideology.Chapter 4:'the criticism on identity thinking and Althusser's thought evolution on ideological theory'. Althusser rethinks philosophy through the ideological criticism on identity thinking, and promotes the ideological criticism on identity thinking through the turn of philosophy theory. Althusser opens the theoretical, political and pratical road to the criticism of ideology. There are some small changes during Althusser's turn from theory to practice. For example, Althusser equals philosophy to science at early time while he makes distinction between philosophy and science at later time. Althusser emphasizes theory at early time while he emphasizes political and class factors in theory at later time. Moreover, Althusser turns from ideology of category and universality to the individualized one. Therefore, there are pratical turn and political turn, which are completed at a gradual change style in Althusser's thoughts. This is a rupture in continuity. This rupture particularly makes ideological state apparatus as a sign, for it contains the dual factors of practical and political turn. In short, Althusser's thoughts go from the relationship of anti-identity, structure (seeking truth) to the correctness. His criticism goes from ideology of category and universality to the individualized one. That is to say, Althusser goes from theory to practice, and from a rational description to opening the gate of system construction.Chapter 5:'the theoretical evaluation on the critique of identity thinking and Althusser's ideological theory'. This chapter attempts to make assessments of Althusser's criticism on identity thinking and Althusser's ideological theory under the background of Marxist theory, and the evaluations are from the following three aspects: defending Marx from ideological criticism, the disclosure of Marx's scientific dimension and the historical position of Althusser's ideological theory.In these six parts of the dissertation, the introduction mainly clarifies the standpoint of our studies into Althusser's theory of ideology and its theoretical meaning and values. The first three chapters refers to the revelation of the ideological criticism on identity thinking at epistemological level, including the premise and method, the theoretical target and the expanded theoretical vision of the ideological criticism. Chapter 4 is to clarify Althusser's thought evolution on ideological critique of identity thinking. This evolution reflects in the consideration about the relationship between theory and practice, which brings Althusser's theory of ideology from the level of theory to political and pratical level. Chapter 5:'the theoretical evaluation on the critique of identity thinking and Althusser's ideological theory'. This chapter attempts to make assessments of Althusser's criticism on identity thinking and Althusser's ideological theory under the background of Marxist theory.