The discussion never quite gets to the title question, except by implication, but no

matter: this is civilized conversation at its best, as host and guest range from the

definition of ideology to the many forms it takes in the modern world. Mr. Buckley

starts out with a formal definition: "a system of political thought that tends to

comprehend all important social questions, giving the answers to all important social problems." Mr. Minogue offers a number of applications, e.g., " 'Redemptive doctrines' ... are beliefs that the world we live in is the most cunningly disguised form of oppression and domination ..., that the business of life is to become conscious of it, which [means] adopting whatever ideological theory is to be recommended, and in that way to fight for liberation.... The idea of liberation is almost the opposite of the idea of freedom."