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Quote by Louis Althusser

“Há, portanto, uma causa para a transposição imaginária das condições de existência reais; essa causa é a existência de um pequeno grupo de homens cínicos que assentam sua dominação e sua exploração do "povo" sobre uma representação falseada do mundo, imaginada por eles para subjugar os espíritos pela dominação de sua imaginação.”

Quote by Louis Althusser

Work

Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses

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Author

Louis Althusser
Louis Althusser

Louis Althusser was a French philosopher who was active in the 20th century. His thoughts were deeply influenced by Marxism, especially focusing on theories of ideology and structuralism. Althusser's theories had a profound impact on subsequent philosophy, sociology, and political science. more

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“«Vedi, in ogni Stato si possono incontrare persone che sono ciecamente fanatiche dell’idea dell’ordine sociale. Devote a questa idea, sono pronte a tutto pur di affermarla. Anche al crimine, giacché sono convinte che il fine giustifichi i mezzi e muti il significato dei concetti. Loro non assassinano, loro salvano l’ordine. Loro non torturano, non ricattano: loro proteggono la ragion di Stato e combattono per l’ordine. La vita di un individuo, qualora l’individuo infranga il dogma dell’ordine stabilito, per queste persone non significa nulla, non vale un soldo. Queste persone non si rendono conto che la società che servono è costituita appunto d’individui. Hanno il cosiddetto sguardo ad ampio raggio... e avere uno sguardo del genere è il modo più sicuro per non vedere gli altri.»”

“All sciences have their mysteries and at certain points the apparently most obvious theory will be found in contradiction with experience. Politics, for example, offers several proofs of this truth. In theory, is anything more absurd than hereditary monarchy? We judge it by experience, but if government had never been heard of and we had to choose one, whoever would deliberate between hereditary and elective monarchy would be taken for a fool. Yet we know by experience that the first is, all things considered, the best that can be imagined, while the second is the worst. What arguments could not be amassed to establish that sovereignty comes from the people? However they all amount to nothing. Sovereignty is always taken, never given, and a second more profound theory subsequently discovers why this must be so. Who would not say the best political constitution is that which has been debated and drafted by statesmen perfectly acquainted with the national character, and who have foreseen every circumstance? Nevertheless nothing is more false. The best constituted people is the one that has the fewest written constitutional laws, and every written constitution is WORTHLESS.”