The Basics of the Critique of the Critique of Ideology and the Truth and Falsity of Ideology: A Reading of Rumi’s Masnavi

Since Plato, the word “ideology” refers to “Idealism” and “Semanticism.” Nowadays, the term “ideology,” in terms of meaning, is a text which can be divided into critical and neutral approaches. Adopting a critical approach, Marx considered ideology as a set of ideas that represent the interests of classes. Although Masnavi is socially and mystically ideological, Rumi adopts a critical position toward ideology. Informed by Rumi’s discourse, this study investigates the basics of the critique of the critique of ideology and the truth and falsity of ideology in Rumi’s Masnavi. The results of this study show that Rumi employs concepts such as originalism, holism, withdrawal, levels of knowledge, and partial and general reason to showcase the importance of the critique of the critique of ideology. By echoing the truth and falsity of ideology, Rumi explores its self-revealing and discursive characteristics.
 
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
One can trace the discourse of ideology to the concept of “idea” in ancient Greece. Following Plato’s Theory of Forms, the word “ideology” refers to “Idealism” and “Semanticism.” One can argue that ideology is a text comprised of different concepts. The Enlightenment sparked the critique of ideology. Following the critique of religion, critics thoroughly explored ideology. Informed by Jürgen Habermas’s “scientific ideologies,” critics argued that since science has the potential to replace the role of religion in ideology, the critique of ideology must be investigated. It seems that the political and ideological unrest during Rumi’s life sparked his criticism. His Masnavi is the battle between reality and ideology.
2. Methodology
Informed by Rumi’s discourse, this study employs a Marxist reading to investigate the basics of the critique of the critique of ideology and the truth and falsity of ideology in Rumi’s Masnavi.
3. Theoretical Framework
This study investigates the concept of ideology, the critique of ideology, and the critique of the critique of ideology. It reviews the literature of the study and explores the significance of the study. Informed by Rumi’s discourse, this study investigates the basics of the critique of the critique of ideology and the truth and falsity of ideology in Rumi’s Masnavi.
4. Discussion and Analysis
By analysing Rumi’s Masnavi, one can argue that mankind is far from its reality, and ideology has distorted his worldview. By addressing the reader, Rumi subjects mankind to criticism and understanding. As the introduction to Masnavi, “Ney Nāmeh” serves as Rumi’s prelude to the critique of ideology. Through a metaphoric reading of mankind as flutes, Rumi argues that just as the flute is an echo of the flautist, our words are just echoes of us and they are far from our absolute reality. In his view, our words are ideology-bound phrases that legitimise rather than enlighten. Although Masnavi is idealistic, spiritualistic, holistic, and, overall, ideologic, it moves beyond the ideologies of its age. Rumi’s thesis and anti-thesis technique is an important feature of Masnavi. To showcase the importance of the critique of the critique of ideology, Rumi employs concepts such as originalism, holism, withdrawal, levels of knowledge, and partial and general reason.
5. Conclusion
Masnavi is the battleground between reality and deceit. Throughout the text, Rumi investigates and criticises different ideological deceptions and strategies. He employs the fire and wind metaphors to distinguish criticism from ideology. Masnavi is an anti-ideological ideological text. Rumi employs concepts such as originalism, holism, withdrawal, levels of knowledge, and partial and general reason to showcase the importance of the critique of the critique of ideology. By echoing the truth and falsity of ideology, Rumi explores its self-revealing and discursive characteristics.
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