The Logic of Ideology

What makes a theory more than a consistent arrangement of ideas? For Tosaka Jun, its decisive feature lies in the problem it addresses and the historical conditions that make that problem necessary. A dispute between standpoints cannot be settled by checking logical consistency alone.

These six connected essays develop a Marxist account of ideology through the concepts of character, problem, truth, and science. Tosaka examines the political character of logic, the possibility of unconscious falsehood, the social conditioning of scientific work, and the relationship between specialized knowledge and the masses. His argument moves from close philosophical distinctions to the institutions and interests that shape intellectual life.

Originally collected in 1930, The Logic of Ideology presents a major Japanese philosopher thinking through the responsibilities of theory in its own time. This complete English translation retains the author’s substantial notes, examples, repetitions, and qualifications, allowing readers to follow the argument’s development across the collection. AI-assisted translation.