In this engaging discussion, Jason Blakely, a political science professor at Pepperdine University and author of 'Lost in Ideology', dives deep into the nature of ideology. He argues that everyone holds ideological beliefs, often without realizing it, shaping our identities and societal perspectives. Blakely explores ideologies as cultural maps influencing personal beliefs and contrasts modern myths with scientific authority. He emphasizes the importance of understanding these ideological frameworks to foster constructive dialogue and enhance community engagement.
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insights INSIGHT
Ideology as a Necessary Cultural Map
Ideology is a cultural map that orients people politically, not just a set of false beliefs.
Everyone has ideology, and those denying it are lost in their own unacknowledged map.
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Ideology's World-Making Power
Ideological maps differ because they shape and change the world, not just describe it.
We inhabit ideologies, which actively influence society's structure and our identity.
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Mistaking Ideology for Reality
People often mistake their ideological map for objective reality, losing awareness of its cultural construction.
This confusion causes resistance to recognizing one's own ideology.
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Jason Blakely's 'Lost in Ideology' offers a fresh perspective on modern political life by examining the major ideologies that shape our world. The book argues that ideologies are both orienting and disorienting, and it provides a nuanced exploration of how these ideologies interact and influence society. Blakely covers a range of ideologies, including liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and more, highlighting their complexities and contradictions.
We’re all ideological, even if we don’t admit it. We like to think of everyone else as ideological, but imagine our own views to be “reality-based,” simply a clear-eyed picture of how things really are. That's nonsense, and today's episode is all about why.
My guest is Jason Blakely, a political science professor at Pepperdine University and author of the new book Lost in Ideology: Interpreting Modern Political Life. We discuss what ideology is, what purpose it plays, how it differs from religion, and why we should think of ideology as both a culture and a map.
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