The Matrix of Ideology - Deconstruction of Reality

What is Ideology?

Before discussing the matrix of ideology, it’s important to clarify that “ideology” here does not refer to any absolute or official definition, but rather to a working framework — a tool for analysis.

In the context of this material:

Ideology is a stable system of views, principles, norms, and practices that organizes collective thinking and behavior, defines what is “right” and “wrong,” creates internal boundaries, authorities, and rituals, supports group identity, and regulates “us vs. them” relationships.

Any definition is always a construct, not a monolith. The point is not in the wording itself, but in the ability to see the mechanisms behind the words.

Core Features of Any Ideology (Closed System of Thinking)

Basis (Foundation, Axiom)
- A hidden or explicitly stated fundamental principle from which everything else in the system is derived.
- Examples:
  - Catholicism: “Human beings are sinful by nature; salvation is possible only through the Church.”
  - Scientific consensus: “Nothing exists except matter; everything is governed by physical laws.”
  - Atheism: “There is nothing supernatural”; “Reality consists solely of the physical world.”
Framework of Permissibility
- Strictly defined boundaries for what is considered acceptable or unacceptable (“right/wrong,” “good/evil,” “us/them”).
Internal Authority
- Presence of a central source of truth: a sacred text, a collective, a leader, or “expertise.”
Sacred/Immutable Body of Knowledge
- A set of doctrines that must not be questioned — a textbook, dogma, manifesto, constitution, or “scientific consensus.”
Promise of the Future / Enlightenment
- The idea of “liberation,” “salvation,” “progress,” or “true knowledge” that can be attained by following the system.
Ritualized Practices
- Regular actions that demonstrate loyalty to the system (reading, meetings, public statements, “exposures,” exams).
Hierarchy and Caste Structure
- Stratified levels: “the initiated” and “the uninitiated,” “elders” and “novices,” “priests” and “laity,” “scholars” and “laypeople.”
“Us vs. Them” Dichotomy
- Dividing people into “our own” and “the others” (sometimes: “humans vs. non-humans,” “civilized vs. savages”).
Mechanisms of Exile/Punishment
- Tools for excluding “heretics,” “apostates,” or “dissenters” — moral or formal banishment.
System of Taboos and Prohibitions
- Clear restrictions on topics, words, gestures, and ideas — “taboos,” “forbidden questions,” “untouchable truths.”
Catalog of Enemies and “Heretics”
- Constructed images of enemies (“reactionaries,” “heretics,” “fascists,” “charlatans,” “capitalists,” etc.) to maintain internal solidarity.
Propaganda of Exceptionalism
- Conviction that only this system knows the truth/path/solution; everyone else is mistaken or deluded.
Self-Reproducing Language
- A specific set of terms, clichés, and slogans, often untranslatable for “outsiders”; its own slang and “access code.”

Formula:

Any ideology is a mechanism for maintaining the boundary, with internal authority, rituals, a system of exile, and a language of exceptionalism.

Note

These features are not accidental — they reflect fundamental mechanisms of group identity and social control.

The Ideology Matrix in the Context of Deep Mind and Flat Mind

Flat Mind is the primary resident of ideological matrices. The ideology matrix is a structure—a closed system of coordinates. Within it, everything is predetermined:

who is right and who is not;
which questions can be asked;
what counts as knowledge and what is considered heresy;
where the entrance is—but there is no exit.

And who feels at home in it? Flat Mind. It fears uncertainty. It loves boundaries, rules, “us” and “them.” Its creed is “clarity is more important than truth.” Flat Mind gladly occupies its cell in the matrix because this provides a sense of control.

Deep Mind is the one who can step outside. Deep Mind is the exile from the matrix. Not a rebel in the usual sense, but one who hears the crack in the harmony. For Deep Mind, the framework of the permissible is not protection, but a prison. It asks “uncomfortable” questions, crosses boundaries, and senses falseness even in what “everyone shares.” Its path is the path of rupture. Deep Mind examines the form and asks, “But where is the living meaning here?” It sees that authority is not a source but a usurper. That “rituals” are often substitutes for experience. That the language of “us” is a trap for thought.

How does this work in practice?

To avoid staying in theory, below you will find examples of analysis of specific ideologies according to this matrix. Each analysis shows how universal features manifest themselves in different systems – from religion to scientific consensus.

P.S.
No matter how universal this matrix is, it should not be turned into another dogma. Any analytical tool sooner or later risks becoming an ideology itself. Use the matrix as a mirror, not as a new shrine.

If you suddenly notice that you have “priests of the matrix” or an “institution of exile” for violating the points of the list, this is a clear signal:
it is time to deconstruct deconstruction itself!