Louis Althusser

Date of Birth: October 16, 1918

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: October 22, 1990

Biography

Louis Pierre Althusser was a prominent French Marxist philosopher, born on October 16, 1918, in Birmandreis, French Algeria (now Bir Mourad Raïs, Algeria). He was a significant figure in the French Communist Party and is best known for his contributions to Marxist philosophy, particularly his theory of ideology and his critique of humanist interpretations of Marx. Althusser’s work had a profound impact on various fields including sociology, political science, and literary theory. Althusser was educated at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he later became a professor. He became widely known in the 1960s with the publication of his works “For Marx” and “Reading Capital,” co-authored with Étienne Balibar, Roger Establet, Pierre Macherey, and Jacques Rancière. These works were instrumental in reinterpreting Marxist theory, emphasizing the structural aspects of Marx’s works and distancing it from Hegelian humanism. However, Althusser’s life was marred by personal struggles. He suffered from severe mental health issues throughout his life, which culminated in the tragic incident in 1980 when he strangled his wife, Hélène Rytmann, in a bout of mania. He was deemed unfit to stand trial and was committed to a psychiatric hospital. Althusser spent the rest of his life in relative obscurity, passing away on October 22, 1990, in La Verrière, France.

5 Interesting Facts about Louis Althusser

1. Louis Althusser was a member of the French Communist Party from 1948 until his death.

2. He introduced the concept of “Ideological State Apparatuses” (ISAs) to explain how ideology is embedded in institutions.

3. Althusser’s reinterpretation of Marxist theory heavily influenced the structuralist movement in the 1960s and 70s.

4. Despite his significant intellectual contributions, Althusser’s mental health struggles led to periods of hospitalization.

5. His controversial actions and subsequent hospital commitment significantly overshadowed his later intellectual work.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Louis Althusser

1. “Ideology represents the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence.”

2. “Philosophy represents the class struggle in theory.”

3. “What is philosophy?—It is class struggle in the field of theory.”

4. “Ideology has very little to do with ‘consciousness’—it is profoundly unconscious.”

5. “The State is a ‘machine’ of repression, which enables the ruling classes…to ensure their domination over the working class.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

There are no specific records indicating the highest net worth achieved by Louis Althusser, as his life and career were primarily academic and not financially driven.