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 language | English |
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Title of host publication | Jean Améry |
Subtitle of host publication | Beyond the Mind's Limits |
Publisher | Springer International Publishing |
Pages | 85-102 |
Number of pages | 18 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783030280956 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783030280949 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 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