ABSTRACT

This chapter engages with Nietzsche’s belief that the widespread spirit of ressentiment – a disposition that sees achievement and excellence in others to be a threat to oneself – poses a serious problem to the establishment of a flourishing society. In his later works, Nietzsche makes a concerted effort to understand this phenomenon and envision a social arrangement that avoids it. In order to uncover Nietzsche’s solution to ressentiment, it is necessary to understand Nietzsche’s political vision – especially his supposed elitism in the late works. After examining the case for the elitist reading, we argue that this interpretation cannot be maintained in light of the fact that, for Nietzsche, political aristocracies are breeding grounds for ressentiment. Next, we argue that Nietzsche instead calls for the establishment of an “aesthetic aristocracy” in which the aristocratic few ensure the many are provided with a robust education that allows them to flourish culturally and economically. This enables many to overcome ressentiment and the society as a whole to create conditions of flourishing for both the few and the many.