State Ideology: On The Contemporary Interpretation Of Marx And Engels' Thought About Ideology

Marx and Engels'thought about ideology occurred in the 19th century,but the theory development and community practice in the 19th and 20th century had not exhausted its meaning and controversy caused by it. In the 21st century,in order to further promote the innovation and development of the thought,in this paper,starting from the research perspective of"State",the author reviews and sorts out this thought using the study method of"dialogue"by focusing on three issues——the philosophical essence of state ideology,the level structure of state ideology,the main functions of state ideology,then puts forward the following points:First,about the essence of the state ideology,the author believes that from the the genesis perspective,the essence lies in the fact that the emergence and development of social division is the direct social and historical root of it;from the phenomenological perspective,the essence lies in the fact that it is only the ideology inherent in the ruling class,although it represents and reflects on the surface the common sense of all the members in the state. Moreover,the state ideology is only the concealment of expression and maintaining of the ruling class's vested interests (the existing class relations,the economic relations,political relations,and other social existence) ,especially for those fundamental and long-term interests.Secondly,about the level structure of state ideology,the author believes that the internal structure of the state ideology consists of three parts: Cognition -explanation level,Goal-strategy level and Value-faith level which are arranged vertically according to the distance from economic fundamentals.In this three factors,the Cognition-explanation level is the basis of theory of knowledge in state ideology;the Goal-strategy level is the content of practice will in state ideology and the intermediate link connecting the other two levels;the Value-belief level is the qualitative standard and core element used to distinguish different state ideology.Moreover,they are interrelated and work together to constitute closely the internal structure of the state ideology,without precedence over their position.Thirdly,about the main functions of state ideology.Generally,the author believes that the main functions of state ideology means that as a system of ideas and concepts impacts on the psychology and thinking of the social members;specifically,the the main functions of state ideology can be divided into three aspects:political function,economic function and social function.To put it in a nutshell,all the functions of the state ideology lies in the fact that it constitutes specific individual as the subject with the category of subject and the function which is played by the category of subject.The article concludes that Marx and Engels'thought about ideology should move towards the present and the future——it is always an indisputable reality. How to make the idea into the reality is crucial,from the view of author,which requires China's Marxists promote development and innovation both in practice and theory more sustained and boldly in the process of interaction of the history and reality using the analyzable frame of the state ideology.