Ideological uses of the past
The thesis is divided into four parts. Each part deals with one aspect of ideological thought. The first part attempts to define the area for study by indicating how the terms ideology and ideological will be understood, and some reasons for dissatisfaction with previous attempts to define the term. It then considers the objection that any attempt to examine the concept of ideology must itself be a rival ideological version of events. This objection is examined by contrasting philosophy as an activity with ideology and offering reasons for holding that they are a) different activities b) philosophy does not underpin a particular ideological model. Thus, it is possible to offer a disinterested study of our subject. The second part examines the relationship between history and ideology. It attempts to show that history is an autonomous enterprise and that it offers a special and particular understanding of the past. In contrast, it is suggested that there are other ways of understanding the past (of which ideology may be one) but that we can distinguish between them and the historical understanding of the past by looking at the appropriate context. The third part looks at three particular ideologies - Marxism,
Grimes, Alistair
History
Ideological uses of the past. The thesis is divided into four parts. Each part deals with one aspect of ideological thought. The first part attempts to define the area for study by indicating how the terms ideology and ideological will be understood, and some reasons for dissatisfaction with previous attempts to define the term. It then considers the objection that any attempt to examine the concept of ideology must itself be a rival ideological version of events. This objection is examined by contrasting philosophy as an activity with ideology and offering reasons for holding that they are a) different activities b) philosophy does not underpin a particular ideological model. Thus, it is possible to offer a disinterested study of our subject. The second part examines the relationship between history and ideology. It attempts to show that history is an autonomous enterprise and that it offers a special and particular understanding of the past. In contrast, it is suggested that there are other ways of understanding the past (of which ideology may be one) but that we can distinguish between them and the historical understanding of the past by looking at the appropriate context. The third part looks at three particular ideologies - Marxism,
ideological past divide_four part part_deal one_aspect ideological thought first_part attempt_define area study indicate term ideology ideological understood reason dissatisfaction previous_attempt define_term considers objection attempt_examine concept ideology must rival ideological version event objection examine contrast philosophy activity ideology offering reason hold_different activity philosophy underpin particular ideological model thus possible offer disinterested study subject second_part examine_relationship history ideology attempt_show history autonomous enterprise offer special particular past contrast suggest_way past ideology may one_distinguish historical past look appropriate context third_part look particular ideology marxism