I believe that there are two dangerous forces that intensify each other whenever we remember the past: murmuring and ressentiment. Nietzsche argued that memories are attached to suffering, which makes them stronger and more memorable. Similarly, Walter Benjamin, in his essay on the concept of History, quotes from Flaubert and suggests that we must be despondent if we want to truly remember. However, as Nietzsche warns, despondency can evolve into ressentiment, a reactionary force that avoid from will to power and glorify the suffering of others.
Given these dangers, it's important to ask: what approach to the alternative narration of history can help us avoid murmuring and ressentiment? We remember the past to honor those who suffered unjustly and to draw inspiration from their struggles for freedom. But if our memories are clouded by these two forces, we risk becoming reactionary ourselves and unable to move beyond the victories and defeats of the past.

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Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Ah, memories. They can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they can bring us comfort and joy, allowing us to relive our happiest moments. On the other hand, they can be a source of pain and sorrow, dredging up painful moments of the past. But two dangerous forces lurk in these memories, waiting to be unleashed: murmuring and ressentiment.

Nietzsche warned us of the power of memories, and that they are often linked to suffering, making them stronger and more memorable. Similarly, Walter Benjamin's essay on the concept of History quotes Flaubert, suggesting that we must be despondent if we want to truly remember. But Nietzsche also cautions us that despondency can evolve into ressentiment, a reactionary force that avoids from will to power and glorifies the suffering of others.

So, what is the alternative narration of history that will help us avoid these two forces? We must remember the past to honor those who suffered unjustly, and to draw inspiration from their struggles for freedom. But if our memories are clouded by murmuring and ressentiment, we risk becoming reactionary ourselves, unable to move beyond the victories and defeats of the past.

Yes, memories are powerful, and can bring both joy and sorrow. But we must be careful to guard against the two dangerous forces of murmuring and ressentiment, lest they overtake us and keep us in the past.