Ideological struggle requires engaging one’s strongest adversaries, unlike warfare

Evidence

It seems more likely, however, that even had the Spaniards snatched a victory at sea the final picture of Europe, when peace came, would not have been much different. … By its very nature the war between Spain and England was likely to be indecisive, and men being what they are even its object lesson proved to be in vain. Most of Europe had to fight another war, thirty years long, before deciding that crusades were a poor way of settling differences of opinion, and that two or more systems of ideas could live side by side without mortal danger to either. — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 896 (#complicates, via linked claim)

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 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Dominant ideology recruits the dominated by neutralizing rival ideologies’ antagonism; Ideological crusades cannot decisively win because ideas resist extermination — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 896; Fighting for a cause rather than oneself can intensify rather than soften conflict — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 306 (+1 more)

Related

• Ideological crusades cannot decisively win because ideas resist extermination (similarity 0.86)
• Ideological commitment requires willed moral blindness to human suffering (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Ideological crusades cannot decisively win because ideas resist extermination #complicates (0.80) — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 896
• Fighting for a cause rather than oneself can intensify rather than soften conflict #expands (0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 306
• Dominant ideology recruits the dominated by neutralizing rival ideologies’ antagonism #qualifies (0.70)