To philosophize with open eyes is to philosophize in the dark. Only the blind can look straight at the sun.
Louis AlthusserRead
Philosophy is, in the last instance, class struggle in the field of theory.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Philosophy is rooted in the conflicts and struggles of various social classes as expressed through theoretical frameworks.
This quote by Louis Althusser suggests that philosophy is not merely an abstract discipline but is deeply intertwined with the social and political struggles of different classes. It emphasizes that theoretical discussions are influenced by class conflicts, and understanding philosophy requires examining these power dynamics and struggles as they manifest in ideas and theories.
Themes
PhilosophyClass StruggleTheorySocietyConflict
In practice
Example use cases
In a university lecture on political philosophy, one could reference this quote to illustrate the connection between theory and social issues.
More from Louis Althusser
All quotes →Occasionally, the whole class struggle may be summed up in the struggle for one word against another word. Certain words struggle amongst themselves as enemies. Other words are the site of an ambiguity: the stake in a decisive but undecided battle
Louis AlthusserRead
It is characteristic of ideology to impose self-evident facts as self-evident facts.
Louis AlthusserRead
Relations of production are first reproduced by the materiality of the processes of production and circulation. But it should not be forgotten that ideological relations are immediately present in these same processes.
Louis AlthusserRead
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