The Wrecking Ball and the Keystone

Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings · Jul 5, 2026 · 21m

Language philosopher Bry Willis examines a recurring philosophical tactic where a thinker uses a specific intellectual tool to dismantle established certainties, only to later use that same tool as the unquestioned foundation for a new system. By reviewing the work of Michael Huemer, René Descartes, and Alasdair MacIntyre, the author illustrates how philosophers often fail to acknowledge the moment their "wrecking ball" is promoted to a "keystone." Willis argues that this process launders subjective intuitions into supposedly objective truths, creating a circular logic that avoids…