The concept of ressentiment and modernity: in search of elusive comparator

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of the ressentment concept in political struggle. Originally, the concept of ressentiment emerged from right-wing ideological positions and was used to «expose» the supposedly «true» background of the actions and ideologies of left-wing and progressive forces. However, over time leftists and liberals also adopted it. They started finding in their opponents almost all the same features that the right accused them of having. The reasons that made this reversal possible are analyzed. The attention is drawn to the reference to normativity, normality, exemplarity, a certain natural order from both right-wing classics of the concept of ressentiment (F. Nietzsche and M. Scheler). The example of this normativity, the fictitious Nietzschean-Schlerian aristocrat, serves in the basic concept of ressentiment as an example of «master» and an object of comparison, a comparator. In modern societies, however, there is no such universally recognized superior social subject. Various political forces and social groups qualify for his place. Thus, all adversaries get the opportunity to accuse each other of ressentiment, and the right-wing monopoly on the use of this concept is overtaken.