What is Ideology and is it Harming Society?

Ideology refers to a set of beliefs, values, doctrines, myths and preferences. Different ideologies support various political and social agendas for guiding a society or institution. Ideologies are systems of abstract thought about civic issues, and thus ideology is central to politics. Some ideologies express dissatisfaction with the current state and aspire to enact an improved future state, while other ideologies seek in some way to maintain the status quo and limit disruptive change.

Do you think ideology Plays to significant a role in the American society?

Ideology is rigid and once fixed on certain beliefs. It refuses to adapt its stance irrespective of any evidence or change in the surrounding environment. Challenging an ideologue or even questioning their core assumptions in any way can be the most difficult task in the world. Ideology discourages any thinking that goes against the fundamental doctrines that govern the philosophy, and, because of this, one is often forced to make irrational and convoluted arguments to defend positions that may be wrong when evaluated based on objective facts, evidence or data. Ideology can cause lots of harm to society because ideological doctrine will not always serve the universal interests of society. Ideology puts personal emotions in play, often tapping into people’s fears and basest instincts. Hot-button issues cause many of the identity-oriented conflicts in society today. The work of the MultiDentities (those who learn from and value the MultiDentity approach to identity) is to encourage ideologues to gain a greater understanding of how they can express their ideology in ways that better support the well-being of society and their place in it.

What’s important today in the age of MultiDentity is that the individual assesses his or her perspective about contested beliefs and values and understands the implications of how their view affects schools, communities, or the workplace. From that awakening, we then choose the highest possible personal response to how our point of view impacts what’s around us. To accomplish this, we must be in charge of what we choose to believe and honor.

For the MultiDentities, operating on default is defunct. For MultiDentities the power of choice is the most important freedom in our lives. Intimately interwoven into the fabric of human experience, is choice. From the MultiDentity perspective, the problem is not necessarily that we’re making bad choices; our challenge is to resist letting ideology make the most important decisions for us only because, quite simply, it’s easier.

MultiDentities instead concentrate on the integrity and consciousness of the decision-making process behind our choices. Was our process thoughtful? Were we clear about the factors that contributed to the values and beliefs we hold? MultiDentities are not focused on telling others what to value or believe but in offering an opportunity to rethink, reimagine and recalibrate our ideologies in an age of interdependence, interconnection, integration and unbounded technological growth.

MultiDentities believe that when we choose our values and beliefs consciously and mindfully, it’s less about arriving at the right answer and more about asking the right question before reaching a sensible conclusion. For example, the MultiDentities might ask:

• When issues are presented as a choice between competing ideologies is it possible that they are both wrong or both partially right?
• Is there a third fourth or fifth creative perspective we’re overlooking?

These kinds of questions are of pressing importance to the inhabitants of an interdependent society because the answers will influence our relationships with others and impact the wellbeing of our organizations and communities. As MultiDentities we seek exacting clarity about our values and beliefs, as well as thorough understanding of how we came to them and if they still serve us well.

We are looking for the courage to examine our beliefs and values and when necessary and are willing to adapt them in response to the changes we are experiencing in society and the world. We also want to identify and understand how the values and beliefs we choose to hold onto affect society. MultiDentities are not passive or neutral. There are values and beliefs embedded in the philosophy. One significant value is that the world will be a better place if people consciously, actively, mindfully understand how their values, beliefs and cultural worldview influence their preference for a particular ideology – and then assess if the ideas you support reinforce your Whole Self – and promote the wellbeing of society.