Louis Althusser was a 20th-century French Marxist philosopher known for his structuralist Marxism and impact on thinkers like Derrida and Foucault. His theories, including concepts of ideology and interpellation, explore how the ruling class maintains dominance through societal beliefs, which are perceived as natural truths. Althusser critiques humanism, asserting that societal structures, rather than individual actions, dictate behavior and creativity.

1. Marxism by Louis Althusser (1918-1990)
His full name is Louis Pierre Althusser, and he was a 20th-century French
Marxist philosopher. His theory of structuralist Marxism is best known. His
theories had an impact on the generation of philosophers that included
Derrida, Michel Foucault, and others. His best-known writings are "Marxism
and Humanism," "For Marx," "Reading Capital," "Ideology and Ideological
State Apparatuses," and "An Essay" (1970).
Marxism- as a Study
Marxism is a science that allows us to see how the ruling class continues to
dominate society and how they impose their beliefs and ideologies on other
classes to preserve this dominance.
People, therefore, live their lives in accordance with these beliefs since they
consider them to be natural ones. This is known as the absolute truth as a
result.
According to his thesis of interpellation, dominating classes repress
subordinate classes because of their beliefs.
Theory of Ideology

2. Ideologies that are prevalent in society and are utilized to defend the
privilege and power of the ruling class are referred to as ideologies in
general by Marxists.
Ideology, in the words of Althusser, is "the representation of images, ideas
and concepts which assist us in understanding our environment." In
addition, ideology, in his view, lacks history because it has not changed over
time.
Althusser assumes the following two things about the Ideology:
1. Ideology is a representation of how people imagine themselves to relate
to their actual conditions of life.
2. Ideology has a physical form.
Interpellation
Giving a person their own identity is known as interpellation. This process
occurs when we encounter or challenge the ideology, democracy, and value
system of a society. Althusser believes that ideology has a significant impact
on interpellation. Interpellation serves two purposes, in his opinion.
1. Recognization
2. Misrecognition
His 1970 essay, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses," is a good
example. wherein he discussed two points;
1. Repressive State Apparatus (RSA)
political society (by Gramsci)
It is a social group that uses strength and coercion to control other social
groups. It includes the police, army, government, law, and legal systems,
among other things.

3. 2. Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA)
hegemony, - (Civil society by Gramsci)
Additionally, it is a social group that, with or without their knowledge,
governs over one or more other groups. like a family, a religion, an
organization, a system of education, and the media. Furthermore, it is true
that we are able to recognize one another because of this identification.
Structured Marxism is another name for Althusser's scientific Marxism. In
addition, there are humanistic Marxists who believe that people are creative
beings who can change the course of history via their deliberate actions.
Marxist structuralists disagree, arguing that it is societal structures rather
than individual behaviour that determine how people behave. Therefore,
Althusser disagrees with both humanism and economic determinism.
Althusser's criticism of humanism
Marxist structuralists believe that our perception of creativity and free will
is a delusion. The fact is that underlying social systems have shaped
everything around us. We are only puppets in society's puppet show. All of
our thoughts and deeds are controlled by invisible social systems.
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