Fighting for a cause rather than oneself can intensify rather than soften conflict

Evidence

On the other hand, however, the parties’ consciousness of being mere representatives of supra-individual claims, of fighting not for themselves but only for a cause, can give the conflict a radicalism and mercilessness which find their analogy in the general behavior of certain very selfless and very idealistically inclined persons. Because they have no consideration for themselves, they have none for others either; they are convinced that they are entitled to make anybody a victim of the idea for which they sacrifice themselves. Such a conflict which is fought out with the strength of the whole person while the victory benefits the cause alone has a noble character; for the noble individual is wholly personal but knows nevertheless how to hold his personality in reserve. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 306

Categorization

• DEFINE: Simmel defines the mechanism by which objectified, supra-individual conflict becomes more merciless: selflessness removes self-consideration and thereby consideration of others.
• XREF: connects to: Purpose-driven conflict can be substituted but feeling-driven conflict cannot — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 298; Legal quarrels are driven by ego self-preservation, not love of fighting — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 301; Fights over worthless chips reveal that fighting itself motivates conflict — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 299 (+8 more)

Related

• Objectified conflict follows its own intrinsic logic without subjective moderation (similarity 0.86)
• Legal quarrels are driven by ego self-preservation, not love of fighting (similarity 0.84)
• Purpose-driven conflict can be substituted but feeling-driven conflict cannot (similarity 0.82)
• Fights over worthless chips reveal that fighting itself motivates conflict (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Extreme acts of self-sacrifice can function as argument rather than abandonment of it #corroborates (0.60) — Jamal Awil, The Whispering Archive, 569