> Which is like reading the point of
> Hamlet as saying Revenge is Bad.
It makes this point by showing the basis of the desire for vengeance in Hamlet's character, i.e. it's insightful.
This contrasts, say, with Foucault who feels that vengeance is good, but lacks insight into why he feels this.
It's not moralistic. It shows, by illuminating the basis of feelings, the path to great feelings, feelings of the greatest pleasure and happiness. Satisfaction of the desire to inflict suffering on others can produce pleasure, but it can't produce the greatest pleasure. This is revealed by insight into what makes sadism pleasurable.
Ted