1. Introduction. I. Reich's Question. II. Method. III. Background Beliefs. IV. Society as a System and 'Political False Consciousness'. V. Ideas and Historical Narrative. VI. The Rise of 'Social Science'. VII. Rationalism. VIII. Providentialism. IX. Marx and the Frankfurt School. X. Preview -- 2. The Forms of False Consciousness. I. Analysis. II. The Scope of 'False Consciousness'. III. Ideological Irrationality. IV. Is all Ideological Consciousness Irrational? V. Is all Ideological Consciousness 'False'? -- 3. Rationalism and False Consciousness. I. Rationalism and Pessimism: Plato and Augustine. II. Political Humanism, Tyranny and Deception: De la Boetie and Machiavelli. III. The Changing Passions. IV. Amour-propre. V. Religious False Consciousness. VI. Rousseau: Amour-propre and False Consciousness. VII. Adam Smith: Sympathy and Authority. VIII. Conclusion -- 4. Unintended Consequences and the Idea of a Social System. I. Antecedents: Aristotle and Augustine.