Is Christianity a Slave Morality? Max Scheler on Ressentiment
Matthew CrawfordSenior Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies and Culture
Mark ShiffmanSaint Patrick’s Seminary and University
Open to current graduate students and faculty. Advanced undergraduates and others interested in participating should contact dstrobach@lumenchristi.org. This event is in-person only. All registrants will receive copies of the selected readings, which should be read in advance of the class. An optional wine and cheese reception will follow.
In his book Ressentiment, the German philosopher Max Scheler deepens Nietzsche's account of ressentiment, the life-denying disposition of spite, envy and revenge. Nietzsche finds this spiritual sickness to be the inner secret of so-called Christian love, which is really an expression of weakness. Scheler turns this account upside down, and finds Christianity a life-affirming doctrine that elevates its adepts into generosity and strength. Scheler also sharply distinguishes Christian love from egalitarian humanitarianism. Sometimes called "the Nietzschean Catholic," Scheler is thus a helpful guide for thinking through the quarrels that are emerging today between the neo-pagan, online Right, which takes its bearings from Nietzsche, and the nascent revival of orthodox Christianity. Scheler equips us to see some overlap in the intuitions of these camps, and to retrieve a more aristocratic and virile strand in the Christian tradition. It is a strand that can speak to our present discontents, and to the pervasive sense of civilizational collapse.
Readings:
We will read Max Scheler's Ressentiment, which may be found here
The master class will focus on:
- Ch. 1
- Ch. 3
- Ch. 4
If you prefer, you can pick up a printout of the readings at Gavin House (1220 E. 58th Street) Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm. Please email David Strobach at dstrobach@lumenchristi.org to let us know you are coming.
Discussion Questions
-
What is Scheler's response to Nietzsche's claim that Christian morality is anti-worldly and based on ascetic ideals? Why is it important to respond to Nietzsche on this question?
-
What is the significance of "the Kingdom of God" in Scheler's account of Christian values?
-
How do love of neighbor and love of humanity differ? W
-
hat is the difference between positive asceticism and negative asceticism?
Schedule:
11:30-12:00 | Optional pre-event lunch
12:00-1:20 | Session 1
1:20-1:40 | Coffee break
1:40-3:00 | Session 2
3:00-3:30 | Reception
Matthew Crawford studied physics at UC Santa Barbara and then turned to political philosophy, earning a PhD from the University of Chicago. He has published articles on ancient Greek philosophy, neuroscience, and the philosophy of science. He is the author of Why We Drive: Toward a Philosophy of the Open Road (2020); The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction (2015); and Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work (2009), a New York Times best seller that has been translated into seven languages.
Mark Shiffman is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Institute for Philosophy, Technology, and Politics at Saint Patrick’s Seminary and University of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He is the translator of Aristotle’s De Anima (Hackett, 2010). His scholarly studies span the fields of ancient philosophy, political theory, and the Catholic tradition, and his writings have appeared in Communio, Commonweal, First Things, Public Discourse, and New Polity and on Front Porch Republic.
