Louis Althusser
From Geography
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Louis Althusser (16 October 1918, Algeria – 22 October 1990, France) was a French philospher. He often gets categorized as a structuralist and was strongly influenced by Marx. | Louis Althusser (16 October 1918, Algeria – 22 October 1990, France) was a French philospher. He often gets categorized as a structuralist and was strongly influenced by Marx. | ||
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| + | == Life == | ||
During the WOII Althusser spent five years in a German concentration camp where he first learned about communism. After the war Althusser finished his studies in philosphy. In 1948 he joined the Communist Party. Althusser was relatively unknown until he published two collections of essays in 1965 Pour Marx and Lire de Capital. He became internationally known for his re-thinking Marxist philosophy. | During the WOII Althusser spent five years in a German concentration camp where he first learned about communism. After the war Althusser finished his studies in philosphy. In 1948 he joined the Communist Party. Althusser was relatively unknown until he published two collections of essays in 1965 Pour Marx and Lire de Capital. He became internationally known for his re-thinking Marxist philosophy. | ||
Althusser married Rytman, who was also a member of the Communist Party. He would kill her in 1980 by strangling her. After this, in the last ten years of his life, he wasn’t productive in philosophy anymore due to illness. During his life Althusser suffered from severe depressions and was admitted several times to psychiatric hospitals. | Althusser married Rytman, who was also a member of the Communist Party. He would kill her in 1980 by strangling her. After this, in the last ten years of his life, he wasn’t productive in philosophy anymore due to illness. During his life Althusser suffered from severe depressions and was admitted several times to psychiatric hospitals. | ||
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| + | == Work == | ||
Louis Althusser was one of the most influential Marxist philosophers of the twentieth Century. He taught [[Jacques Derrida]] and [[Michel Foucault]]. His work was debated worldwide as they seemed to offer a renewal of Marxist thought. | Louis Althusser was one of the most influential Marxist philosophers of the twentieth Century. He taught [[Jacques Derrida]] and [[Michel Foucault]]. His work was debated worldwide as they seemed to offer a renewal of Marxist thought. | ||
His most important works were: | His most important works were: | ||
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-Philosophie et philosophie spontanée des savants, 1974 (Philosophy and the Spontaneous Philosophy of the Scientists and Other Essays) | -Philosophie et philosophie spontanée des savants, 1974 (Philosophy and the Spontaneous Philosophy of the Scientists and Other Essays) | ||
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| + | == Example == | ||
Althusser states that people be addressed as subjects. People are submissive to a certain system, but at the same time the topic of that system. For example: ''Good evening ladies and gentleman, fine that you are all watching our performance, you are now going to see the youngest group of the evening''. This example states that you, as onlooker, know your place and are willing to take that place. | Althusser states that people be addressed as subjects. People are submissive to a certain system, but at the same time the topic of that system. For example: ''Good evening ladies and gentleman, fine that you are all watching our performance, you are now going to see the youngest group of the evening''. This example states that you, as onlooker, know your place and are willing to take that place. | ||
Althusser states also that people aren't a reflection of their social position, but people are a reflection of imagined relations. According to Althusser, that is the result of a proces called salutation or interpellation. An example is, that when you are walking on the street and you hear: ''Hé, you over there!"' At that moment you know that the shouting is meant for you. It's exactly ideology, because at the moment you are called, you recognize yourself in that ideology and you feel recognized at the same time. | Althusser states also that people aren't a reflection of their social position, but people are a reflection of imagined relations. According to Althusser, that is the result of a proces called salutation or interpellation. An example is, that when you are walking on the street and you hear: ''Hé, you over there!"' At that moment you know that the shouting is meant for you. It's exactly ideology, because at the moment you are called, you recognize yourself in that ideology and you feel recognized at the same time. | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
Kirjasto (n.d.). Louis Althusser. Accessed on 20 October 2010, on | Kirjasto (n.d.). Louis Althusser. Accessed on 20 October 2010, on | ||
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/althusse.htm <BR> | http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/althusse.htm <BR> | ||
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http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/althusser/ | http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/althusser/ | ||
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| - | Picture added by Doris Roelvink, 25 october 2012 | + | == Contributors == |
| + | * Page edited by Rens Mennen, 23 October 2012 | ||
| + | * Page edited by Marleen Revenberg, 25 October 2012 | ||
| + | * Picture added by Doris Roelvink, 25 october 2012 | ||
[[Category: Post-structuralism]] | [[Category: Post-structuralism]] | ||
Revision as of 11:06, 25 October 2012
Louis Althusser (16 October 1918, Algeria – 22 October 1990, France) was a French philospher. He often gets categorized as a structuralist and was strongly influenced by Marx.
Contents |
Life
During the WOII Althusser spent five years in a German concentration camp where he first learned about communism. After the war Althusser finished his studies in philosphy. In 1948 he joined the Communist Party. Althusser was relatively unknown until he published two collections of essays in 1965 Pour Marx and Lire de Capital. He became internationally known for his re-thinking Marxist philosophy. Althusser married Rytman, who was also a member of the Communist Party. He would kill her in 1980 by strangling her. After this, in the last ten years of his life, he wasn’t productive in philosophy anymore due to illness. During his life Althusser suffered from severe depressions and was admitted several times to psychiatric hospitals.
Work
Louis Althusser was one of the most influential Marxist philosophers of the twentieth Century. He taught Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault. His work was debated worldwide as they seemed to offer a renewal of Marxist thought. His most important works were:
-Montesquieu: La politique l'histoire, 1959 (Mostesquieu: Politics and History)
-Pour Marx, 1965 (For Marx)
-Lire de Capital, 1965 (Reading Capital)
-Lénine et la philosophie, 1969 (Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays)
-Eléments d'autocritique, 1974 (Elements of Self-Criticism)
-Philosophie et philosophie spontanée des savants, 1974 (Philosophy and the Spontaneous Philosophy of the Scientists and Other Essays)
Example
Althusser states that people be addressed as subjects. People are submissive to a certain system, but at the same time the topic of that system. For example: Good evening ladies and gentleman, fine that you are all watching our performance, you are now going to see the youngest group of the evening. This example states that you, as onlooker, know your place and are willing to take that place.
Althusser states also that people aren't a reflection of their social position, but people are a reflection of imagined relations. According to Althusser, that is the result of a proces called salutation or interpellation. An example is, that when you are walking on the street and you hear: Hé, you over there!"' At that moment you know that the shouting is meant for you. It's exactly ideology, because at the moment you are called, you recognize yourself in that ideology and you feel recognized at the same time.
References
Kirjasto (n.d.). Louis Althusser. Accessed on 20 October 2010, on
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/althusse.htm
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2009). Louis Althusser. Accessed on 20 October 2010, on http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/althusser/
Contributors
- Page edited by Rens Mennen, 23 October 2012
- Page edited by Marleen Revenberg, 25 October 2012
- Picture added by Doris Roelvink, 25 october 2012
