Uses of Nietzsche in Political Philosophy and Deleuze's Recasting of the Concept of Ressentiment
Sep 5, 2020
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Explore the applications of Nietzsche's philosophy in political theory and leftist programs. Discuss Nietzsche's influence on political thinking, his concepts of ressentiment and eternal return, and debunk the caricature of Nietzsche as a fascist. Delve into Deleuze's reinterpretation of ressentiment, genealogy as a methodology, and Nietzsche's concept of ressentiment as the motor of history. Discover the person of Rezontemann and the political implications of Nietzsche's philosophy.
Ressentiment is an impotent emotional disposition that infiltrates all institutions and creates a motor of history.
Understanding forces is crucial in comprehending the history and psychology of individuals, institutions, and society.
Deep dives
The concept of Rezontemann in Nietzsche's philosophy
Rezontemann is an emotional comportment or disposition of people who are impotent to act upon forces that are acting against them and their interests. The slave class takes vengeance on the strong by deploying morality as a weapon to make the strong feel guilty about their strength. Rezontemann gives rise to the totality of psychology in the broadest sense, infiltrating all institutions in the modern world. It is not reducible to a psychological trait, but rather a motor of history that deeply ramifies the social field.
The theory of forces in Nietzsche and Deleuze
Deleuze taps into Nietzsche's concept of the will to power as a genetic and differential element in the theory of forces. Active forces create and affirm, while reactive forces simply react. Deleuze critiques Hegel's dialectical process, which proceeds primarily through negation, while active forces in Nietzsche's philosophy create and affirm without relying on negation. Understanding forces is crucial in understanding the history and psychology of individuals, institutions, and society.
Evaluation of values and the critique of representation
Nietzsche's genealogical method aims to trace the origins of values and challenge their unquestioned status. Values are not fixed or inherently good, but are products of Rezontemann and historical forces. Deleuze explores the ethical implications of Nietzsche's critique of representation, which privileges recognition and morality. Nietzsche's project challenges conventional values and seeks to recover life-affirming tendencies and instincts beyond fixed identities and negation.
Implications of Rezontemann in politics
Rezontemann has political implications for both left and right ideologies. It can be used to blame others and avoid taking responsibility, as seen in right-wing discourses that criticize social welfare or capitalism. However, Rezontemann can also be seen as a critique of oppressive systems and a call for personal and collective empowerment, as embraced in left-wing readings of Nietzsche. The way Rezontemann is interpreted can vary greatly and shape the political project of individuals and movements.
Deleuze's Nietzsche & Philosophy is an exciting and controversial interpretation of Nietzsche which stands at the forefront of 20th Century Nietzsche scholarship. In this episode, we visit the text and the concept of ressentiment and the theory of forces, both of which Deleuze famously elaborates. Together we investigate possible uses of Nietzsche as a political mediator. Figures include Kant, Hegel, Marx, Foucault, and Brassier. Also, we disabuse listeners of characterizations of Nietzsche put forward by figures such as Jordan B. Peterson.