Louis Althusser

Louis Althusser was a French philosopher known for his reinterpretation of Marxism. He argued that ideology shapes our understanding of reality and that it functions within societal structures. Althusser critiqued traditional Marxism by emphasizing the role of the state and its institutions in sustaining capitalism, not just through economics but also through cultural and ideological means. His work introduced concepts like "ideological state apparatuses," which explain how education, media, and religion perpetuate dominant beliefs. He also distinguished between the "depth" and "surface" of social relations, contributing to critical theory and discussions around historical materialism, constructivism, and relativism.