When an organization reaches institutional status, it does so by setting its continued existence as its highest priority. No longer is it simply an assemblage of coordinated elements, doing their part to better express the will of the participants. An institution is a primitive form of artificial intelligence, it can also be understood as analogous to ideology.
The institution acts to sustain itself, at the cost of the values it was founded upon. They are forgotten in the exultation of the newly existent beast. This is also the way in which ideals are swallowed up by ideologies. If the institution fails, then the ideals that are held in reeking dungeons and gilded cages, far from the windows and doors, will slip back into the night and go again unnoticed. At least this is the view of the institution, and so it is that they persuade themselves to believe that preserving the institution will protect the ideals it was founded upon.
The power of being cannot be easily resisted. Nietzsche referred to "Will To Power." The institution itself succumbs to this same force, or is compelled by it. The sting of that first inhalation is not soon forgotten, and the next one is sought with terrifying voracity. Ah, that it might continue forever.
What is the nature of resistance to this force, this "Will To Power"? Is it a "Will To Death"? Is it that altruism wanders the countryside as a ghost? Or could it not be a ghost, for never having existed?
When we become keen participants, and cease to be competing factions we commit a revolutionary act. We revolt against our very nature. To place what is in our own interest second, to what is the common concern. It is still the most dangerous of human devil dares.
We are witnessing the end of the old cultures and we can hope for the birth of a new kind of culture. A culture of consciousness, where peoples needs are not seen as weaknesses, and their desires not seen to be sins. A culture of thoughtfulness and care, where a generation can be raised without the resentment and bitterness that has suckled us. Would we have to kill all cultures to achieve this? Every cursed interpretation of the old world, written above our heads like hideous reminders of our past. We are the beasts who have nearly escaped our skin, but have not quite managed it yet. We are half emerged, our primitive shape still clings to us.