A philosophy of necessary destruction can conceal a love of destruction itself.

Evidence

The metaphor, like most Moses metaphors, was vivid. But it was incomplete. It expressed his philosophy, but it was not philosophy but feelings that dictated Moses’ actions. He didn’t just feel that he had to swing a meat ax. He loved to swing it. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 3556

Categorization

• XREF: Recalls Adorno and MacIntyre on means-ends justification hiding gratification; also distills the book’s whole central thesis about power for its own sake. — connects to: Great public works throughout history have required autocratic power to build. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 3547; critical philosophy that becomes serviceable to power turns its own positives destructive; Substance’s actuosity is simultaneously creative and destructive power — Catherine Malabou, The Future of Hegel: Plasticity,…, 1102 (+2 more)
• DEEPTHINKING: The last sentences end the chapter on the deepest note of the whole study: stated cost-benefit reason may be rationalization of a pleasure in domination.

Broader Connections

• critical philosophy that becomes serviceable to power turns its own positives destructive #expands (0.85)
• Belief in a cause’s morality turns destructive acts into pride #corroborates (0.82)
• Substance’s actuosity is simultaneously creative and destructive power #expands (0.78) — Catherine Malabou, The Future of Hegel, 1102
• Philosophy legitimized material greed through lofty discourse that gained performative power #expands (0.75) — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 360