Ideological coherence is experienced, not logically necessary

Evidence

Yet, within the framework of the totalitarian ideology, nothing could be more sensible and logical; if the inmates are vermin, it is logical that they should be killed by poison gas; if they are degenerate, they should not be allowed to contaminate the population; if they have “slave-like souls” (Himmler), no one should waste his time trying to re-educate them. Seen through the eyes of the ideology, the trouble with the camps is almost that they make too much sense, that the execution of the doctrine is too consistent. — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1027 (#complicates, via linked claim)

The third strength which structuralism exhibits lies in its decentering of “experience” and its seminal work in elaborating the neglected category of “ideology.” It is difficult to conceive of a Cultural Studies thought within a Marxist paradigm which is innocent of the category of “ideology.” Of course, culturalism constantly makes reference to this concept: but it does not in fact lie at the center of its conceptual universe. The authenticating power and reference of “experience” imposes a barrier between culturalism and a proper conception of “ideology.” Yet, without it, the effectivity of “culture” for the reproduction of a particular mode of production cannot be grasped. … It is true that there is a marked tendency in the more recent structuralist conceptualizations of “ideology” to give it a functionalist reading-as the necessary cement of the social formation. From this position, it is indeed impossible-as culturalism would correctly argue-to conceive either of ideologies which are not, by definition, “dominant” or of the concept of struggle (the latter’s appearance in Althusser’s famous “Ideological State Apparatus” article being largely gestural). — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 201 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Shared ideological critique did not yet imply a clear program of positive policy — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 167; A subculture explanation still requires a coherence account. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 634; Right-wing ideology is strategically coherent even when logically inconsistent. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1693 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Ideological logic makes the camps coherent rather than senseless #complicates (0.80) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1027
• Treating experience as the ground of truth blocks a usable theory of ideology. #complicates (0.78) — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 201