What is 'False Consciousness'?

[warmblanket]

Just wondering what your knowledge or definition of 'False Consciousness' is? Thanks

[sakoz]

warmblanket;  Clarify your question please.  "Consciousness" is never false, content IN consciousness can be and often is. Examples, false thoughts BELIEVED true/real, illusions, hallucinations, etc.
Consciousness witnesses what 'shows up' in environment or witnesses what's 'accessed' from memory or imagination.

[SWM]

false conciousness refers to a group consciousness that is divorced from the reality of the group situation. ( i think, thats how i understnad it any way.) it is alluded to but not explicitly stated in the communist manifesto and is prevalent in most cultures today to some degree.

such the UK and US democatric system where it appears like we live in a democracy but in actuality we have absolutley no power to change the status quo of two party system.  although i do not think this is what is meant by false consciousness in the marxist sense.
  
but for example with the tea party movement in US at present. tea party supporters believe they are supporting and advocating for principles of free market capitalism, where those who work hard and play fair can live the american dream. however what they are supporting is free market facism, where those with the greatest wealth buy and sell the government and make the laws up to suit themselves.

or the zeitgest movement whose supporters believe they are promoting a solution to the corrupt forms of capitalism that are rampant in the industiralised nations through a liberalised automated society where food and production of goods is automated and managed by the government for the people and the people are able to roam the gardens, graze and educate themselves in a utopian paradise. what the zeitgest movement is really leading to is the communist ideology of fully state controlled society with allocated resources and property under a one party state rule.

these are two examples of false consciousness.