Philosophers

What does it mean to accuse a person of "false consciousness"? I've seen the term used by some philosophers, but I've never seen it explained.

Comments

This is technical term within Marxist thought. 'Falseconsciousness' is when an individual or especially a class is unableto properly recognise the economic and political situation. Indeed,the individual or class may even put forward a view concerning theirsituation and justify that view, BUT that view and its justificationare (unbeknownst to them) in fact determined by the underlyingconditions of production. In such a case, the individual appears tobe fully conscious both of their views and of their reasons forholding those views, when in fact they are quite 'unconsious' of thereal reasons. Specifically, the working classes are unable torecognise their exploited condition, or their own contribution to thecreation and maintenance of that condition, because of a falseconsciousness concerning it. 'False consciousness' is thus related tothe term 'ideology'.

The term might be used more generally (i.e. without any referenceto Marxism) for analogous situations where our awareness orrationality are compromised, leading to a way of thinking thatperpetuates a wrong or falsehood. For example, there is a deliberateecho of the idea in Sartrean existentialism when I 'objectify' myselfin order to escape from consciousness of my freedom.

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