The telos of the First World War: the end was contained within the beginning. Perpetual slaughter from the inception of the war (July 28, 1914) to its conclusion (November 11, 1918). Nation-states asking men to run into artillery shells and artillery fire.

The telos or purpose of the war: to create memorials to the dead, testifying to the existence and greatness of nation-states. If so many die for some (invisible) thing, it must be real.

The proof of the pudding is in the dying.

Each nation contributed. Each nation participated in the blood-sacrifice; a massive potlatch; collective fantasy enacted in social reality.

No one wanted to be left out. It was a family affair. 

The family of nations came together. The world became as if one: united by a collective blood sacrifice. 

Richard Koenigsberg
rakoenigsberg1@gmail.com
718-393-1081