Meaning: Louis Althusser, a prominent Marxist philosopher, made the statement "Ideology has very little to do with 'consciousness' - it is profoundly unconscious." This quote encapsulates Althusser's theory of ideology, which has had a significant influence on the fields of philosophy, sociology, and political science.

Althusser's concept of ideology is rooted in his understanding of how society functions and how power is maintained. According to Althusser, ideology is not just a set of ideas or beliefs held by individuals; rather, it is a system of beliefs and values that permeates all aspects of society, shaping the way individuals perceive themselves, their relationships, and the world around them. This system of beliefs operates largely on an unconscious level, influencing people's thoughts and actions without their awareness.

In Althusser's view, individuals are interpellated, or hailed, into ideology from a very young age. This means that from the moment they are born, individuals are subjected to various ideological messages that shape their understanding of the world. These messages come from a variety of sources, including family, education, religion, media, and the state. Through this process of interpellation, individuals come to internalize the dominant ideology of their society, which then becomes the lens through which they make sense of their experiences and relationships.

Althusser's emphasis on the unconscious nature of ideology is a key departure from earlier Marxist theories, which often focused on the role of class consciousness in shaping social change. While Althusser acknowledged the importance of class struggle, he argued that ideology operates independently of individuals' consciousness and can exert a powerful influence on their behavior even when it contradicts their class interests.

One of the implications of Althusser's theory is that ideology serves to maintain the existing social order by naturalizing and legitimizing the power structures that benefit the ruling class. By framing certain values, beliefs, and practices as inevitable and natural, ideology obscures the ways in which power is unequal and perpetuates social inequalities. This process of naturalization occurs largely on an unconscious level, making it difficult for individuals to recognize and challenge the ways in which ideology shapes their lives.

Althusser's concept of ideology has been the subject of extensive debate and critique. Some scholars have questioned the extent to which ideology operates unconsciously, arguing that individuals are not passive recipients of ideological messages and can actively resist or reinterpret them. Others have pointed to the ways in which different social groups and individuals may hold conflicting or contradictory ideologies, complicating the notion of a unified, all-encompassing ideology.

Despite these debates, Althusser's work continues to be influential in shaping critical perspectives on ideology and power. His emphasis on the unconscious nature of ideology has informed analyses of cultural hegemony, media manipulation, and the ways in which dominant ideologies shape our understanding of identity, gender, race, and other social categories.

In conclusion, Louis Althusser's quote "Ideology has very little to do with 'consciousness' - it is profoundly unconscious" encapsulates his theory of ideology as a system of beliefs and values that operates largely on an unconscious level, shaping individuals' perceptions and behaviors. Althusser's emphasis on the unconscious nature of ideology has had a significant impact on how we understand the ways in which power is maintained and social inequalities are perpetuated. His work continues to spark debate and inspire critical analyses of the role of ideology in contemporary society.