Beauty Will Save the World? Ideology as Aesthetics

Beauty Will Save the World? Ideology as Aesthetics


Musikhin G.I.,

Dr. Sci. (Pol. Sci.), Professor, Department of Political Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics, glebmusikhin@hse.ru



For citation:

Musikhin G.I. Beauty Will Save the World? Ideology as Aesthetics . – Polis. Political Studies. 2008. No. 4



Abstract

An attempt has bee undertaken in the article to apply Kant’s cognitive pattern of aesthetic theory for analyzing particularities of political ideology. Connecting the discursive approach to ideology proposed by Althusser, and Kant’s theory of aesthetics as critique of the judgment ability (Kritik der Urtheilskraft), one formalizes in a new way the concept of ideology in categories of «the beautiful - the ugly» and of «the lofty - the profane» and overcomes the stable stereotype of ideology as «false consciousness». What appears especially important in this connection is not so much how this or that ideology describes the world, as how it «locates» in this world the socio-political agents. Therefore ideology presents itself as a «wandering» intermediary between concrete reality and the individuals, it forms a peculiar unattainable visible horizon of the political world. The characterized approach allows to conclude that people’s cynicism toward political authority is not an indicator of the «end of ideology» as a descriptive political category, for it is exactly this cynicism that is being influenced over by the ideological factors forming the «obedient majority» of modern societies.


Content No. 4, 2008

See also:


Torkunov A.V.,
Russia and political order in a changing world: values, institutions, prospects. – Polis. Political Studies. 2022. No5

Rutland P.,
Russia and China: Saga of Two Transitions to Market Economy. – Polis. Political Studies. 2009. No3

Arbatov A.G.,
Nuclear metamorphoses. – Polis. Political Studies. 2023. No5

Lukin A.V., Lukin P.V.,
Myths about Russian Political Culture and Russian History. Part I.. – Polis. Political Studies. 2009. No1

Palonen K.,
«Objectivity» as «Fair Play». M.Weber’srRedefinition of normative notion. – Polis. Political Studies. 2010. No5

 

   

Introducing an article



Polis. Political Studies
6 2003


Pantin I.K.
So What Does the Russians’ Choice Consist In?

 The article text
 

Archive

   2024      2023      2022      2021   
   2020      2019      2018      2017      2016   
   2015      2014      2013      2012      2011   
   2010      2009      2008      2007      2006   
   2005      2004      2003      2002      2001   
   2000      1999      1998      1997      1996   
   1995      1994      1993      1992      1991