The Ethics of Resentment: The Tactlessness of Jean Améry

David Heyd*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

In his essay “Resentments” the holocaust survivor Jean Améry presents a radical position about the fundamental moral role of “ressentiment” felt by the victim toward the perpetrator of the wrong. The article first examines the way Nietzsche’s concept of ressentiment is turned on its head. Secondly, it uncovers the surprising similarity of Améry’s view to P. F. Strawson’s theory of reactive attitudes in moral theory. Finally, Améry’s awareness of the tactlessness of the expression of resentment is carefully analyzed in terms articulated by Hans-Georg Gadamer and others. The ultimate point made by Améry concerning the backward-looking attitude of resentment consists of the tragic tension between its being the only genuine moral attitude toward Nazi crimes and its futility associated with the obstruction it necessarily puts in the way of the forward-looking tendency of social morality.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationJean Améry
Subtitle of host publicationBeyond the Mind's Limits
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Pages85-102
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9783030280956
ISBN (Print)9783030280949
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Keywords

  • Améry
  • Nietzsche
  • Ressentiment
  • Strawson
  • Tact

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