How did Karl Marx use ideology critique in his social theory?

In the philosophy of social science, Karl Marx utilized ideology critique to expose how the dominant ideas of an epoch serve to legitimize the interests of the ruling class and obscure the underlying realities of exploitation.12

Marx argued that the economic structure of society—the "real foundation"—determines the legal, political, and intellectual "superstructure," including the ideas, morality, and religion of that society. Because "the ruling ideas of every epoch are the ideas of the ruling class," these concepts are not neutral; they are used to naturalize social hierarchies and justify the unequal distribution of power and wealth.341

Through this critique, Marx sought to reveal how ideological forms—such as the portrayal of the free market as inherently fair—prevent individuals from recognizing their true interests. While Marx did not use the term "false consciousness," he described a similar condition where exploited workers accept dominant ideologies that justify their own subordination. By analyzing these representations as products of material conditions rather than independent truths, Marx aimed to strip away the "ideological obfuscation" that sustains capitalist relations, ultimately arguing that such distortions can only be resolved through fundamental changes in the material structure of society.154