Nietzsche''s Psychology of Ressentiment: Revenge and Justice in On the Genealogy of Morals

Ressentimentthe hateful desire for revengeplays a pivotal role in Nietzsches On the Genealogy of Morals. Ressentiment explains the formation of bad conscience, guilt, asceticism, and, most importantly, it motivates the slave revolt that gives rise to Western moralitys values. Ressentiment, however, has not enjoyed a thorough treatment in the secondary literature. This book brings it sharply into focus and provides the first detailed examination of Nietzsches psychology of ressentiment. Unlike other books on the Genealogy, it uses ressentiment as a key to the Genealogy and focuses on the intriguing relationship between ressentiment and justice. It shows how ressentiment, despite its blindness to justice, gives rise to moral justicethe central target of Nietzsches critique. This critique notwithstanding, the Genealogy shows Nietzsches enduring commitment to the virtue of non-moral justice: a commitment that grounds his provocative view that moral justice spells the end of justice. The result provides a novel view of Nietzsche's moral psychology in the Genealogy, his critique of morality, and his views on justice.