What Is An Ideology?

What is an ideology? Why is it that 'ideology' frequently, and 'ideologue' almost always, are words with negative connotations?

This post was prompted by a mini-discussion on the 'Oz Conservative' blog of whether there is a conservative (core) ideology, and what it would be, if there is.


An ideology is a simplistic valuation-in-isolation of just a few (or even just one) of the goods human beings naturally value: an ideology absolutizes those (few) things it values.

For instance, "liberals" value equality (just as we conservatives do) -- but because they refuse to place it in a proper context, which context includes justice and liberty, their view of equality is ideological; it's not equality-before-the-law, but rather egalitarianism.

For instance, libertarians value liberty (just as we conservatives do) -- but because they refuse to place it in a proper context, which context includes justice and duty, their view of liberty is ideological; it's not liberty-within-the-law, but rather libertinism.


In response to the question, “What is Conservativism?” I said:
“Conservativism is the mindset and act of knowing and holding to a proper and virtuous balance between the competing goods of human nature.”

My point was that there are things we humans naturally value, which we should value, but that there is a tension, and even sometimes a competition, between these goods: if we do not keep them in a proper balance, we end up with monstrous ideologies with destroy individuals or entire societies.