Exploration of Ideology in Thoughts of Shariati and Soroush

Ideology is subject-matter in various fields of humanities including philosophy, sociology, political sciences, and religious studies. This inquiry is intended to explore ideology in the thought of Shariati and Soroush aims to give responses to following questions: what is meant by ideology in above-mentioned arenas. To which of them does each of these thinkers belong? Has Soroush taken a proper approach in his critique on Shariati? The findings of present paper show that philosophy holds ideology as a wrong experimental foundation for thoughts and awareness and sociology regards it be proper basis for social fact. Neglecting the meaning extent of ideology, Soroush has given an instrumental role and selectivity to ideology and negated all ideologies and criticized Shariati’s thoughts whereas the latter considers ideology as expressing a social fact and thus gives it a dynamic role and driving force, which due to the element of ejtehad (methodic independent thought in religious matters) can avoid dogmatism and static mind. Although Shariati has committed in determining the concept and reality of ideology, he regards it as necessary element for all human societies throughout the ages so much so that he considers the end of ideologies as echo of the conspiracies made by dominant systems of rule