How about the ideology of those who wish to preserve Nature? The crew of Sea Shepherd (and other active conservationists) are conforming to an ideology too.

Is 'ideology' bad? Surely, it's like most things. Sometimes 'yes' sometimes 'no'.

The poster asked whether it is possible to pursue one's interests without an ideology. It's a question I am still thinking about because I feel it should be possible. But the more I think about it, the more objections seem to arise. It depends on the meaning attached to ideology I think. Certainly I believe we attach ourselves to ideas that appeal to us. Does this then mean we adopt the ideology that probably accompanies them?