in so far as

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I do not quite understand the sentences in italics. Could anyone do me a favor?


The class which has the means of material production at its disposal, has control at the same time over the means of mental production, so that thereby, generally speaking, the ideas of those who lack the means of mental production are subject to it...In so far, therefore, as they rule as a class and determine the extent and compass of an epoch, it is self-evident that they... among other things... regulate the production and distribution of the ideas of their age: thus their ideas are the ruling ideas of the epoch.

Thanks a lot.

 

[RonBee]

Hi,

I do not quite understand the sentences in italics. Could anyone do me a favor?


The class which has the means of material production at its disposal, has control at the same time over the means of mental production, so that thereby, generally speaking, the ideas of those who lack the means of mental production are subject to it...In so far, therefore, as they rule as a class and determine the extent and compass of an epoch, it is self-evident that they... among other things... regulate the production and distribution of the ideas of their age: thus their ideas are the ruling ideas of the epoch.

Thanks a lot.

What is important is to understand the paragraph as a whole. What it means is that he who controls the means of production also determines what ideas are in ascendance. (BTW, if that were self-evident it would hardly be necessary to point it out.)

8)