The Id of Ideology

I once proclaimed that ideology is the lowest form of consciousness. But it was pointed out to me that ideology is just a system of ideas and ideals, and as such, all humans have an ideology. So allow me to adjust my proclamation to this …

Having your identity come from your ideology is the lowest form of consciousness.

When your identity becomes intertwined with your ideology, your mind will process any threat to your ideology as a threat to your identity. This is the source code of hate that we see in extremism. We see this played out with the naked anti-Semitism of the far left (especially in academia) and in the death spiral of the far right towards religious authoritarianism.

Over-identifying with your ideology produces several external markers:

• Lack of nuance - this is the over-application of binary thinking and the inability to see the spectrum of most ideas. It is also reflected in not doing some background on who you quote as a source of inspiration (which is why I’m critical of quoting Osho, John Lennon, Che Guevara, Elon Musk, etc.)

• Face-painting - this is the metaphorical rabid fan - donning the gear of their chosen savior; literally wearing their biases on their sleeves (and heads).

• Over-use of hyperbole - this is the tendency to using language for the sole intention of inflating your viewpoint.

• Lack of intellectual humility - this is the inability to embrace the possibility that you might be wrong; and often results in the doubling-down on your ideological views in the face of data and evidence.

• Cognitive dissonance - this is where your ideological views do not match your supposed values. Think of world leaders going to a climate change summit in their private jets or the “Queers for Hamas” signs seen on a number of university campuses.

• Moral relativism - this is where you justify the behavior of your chosen savior yet condemn the same behaviors in the people you disagree with.

• Belief in conspiracy theories- paranoia is a sure symptom of having your ideology indistinguishable from your ideology.