Creative Destruction

For thousands of years, man has had the idea that through destruction there is creation. The phoenix rising from the ashes dates back to the Egyptians and nearly every civilization on earth mentions the concept. Plus, let’s be honest, the whole circle of life concept isn’t that novel considering it is ubiquitous in nature.

Strangely, though, there is something a little inaccurate about human descriptions of creative destruction prior to the 20th century. Whether it is the phoenix, Jesus’ resurrection or the Hindu cycle with Brahma and Shiva, there is death before birth. In “Thus Spoke Zarathura,” Nitzche wrote “Whoever must be a creator always annihilates” and “the man who break…is the creator.”

But they have the order all wrong in actuality. Creation does not follow destruction and destruction does not facilitate creation. In fact, as we see in nature and society, it is the opposite. Destruction follows birth and destruction prevents birth. On the other hand, it is creation that leads to more creation. Destruction is mainly just the result of redundant and superfluous creation.

For instance, organisms are not reborn after death. They are born from other living creatures. Usually after procreating, they then die, but never before.

The same is true of construction projects. Almost never will one tear something down to rebuild it better. Instead, one builds the new one and then tears down the old one.

20th century economists, were the first to get things right. “Creative destruction” was a way of describing the way old businesses die off and make room for new more efficient businesses. Never, though, does the old business die off first. The old business is rendered useless by the new business and then vanishes.

There is a simple, yet oft forgotten lesson for the anarchist or the nation builder to be learned here. Create before one destroys.