Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Ethics - Essay ExampleAs per his analogy, there exists three complaisant classes the impressive, slaves and priestly class. Guided by their subjective inclinations, the noble class defines morality by rendering what they discriminate as being favorable to be good and vise versa (Nietzsche, 2010 p. 167). Conversely, those in the slave class reside oppressed by the distinctions made by the noble class whereby, they live a resigned life parcel the nobles with any attempt to progress thwarted. However, Nietzsche recognized that not everyone outside of the noble class remain nonoperational to oppression by the noble class. They belong to the priestly class characterized by their hatred for those in the noble class, and unwillingness to accept a lower position in the social hierarchy (Nietzsche, 2010 p. 171). As a result, they developed a feeling of ressentiment conjured up by a slave revolt mentality. Nietzsche defined ressentiment as a reactive feeling to a continuous perceived sen se of oppression whereby, pen up frustrations predispose individuals to creating an imaginary place where they can direct these feelings. Discussed below is the origin of this psychological orientation, ressentiments use in shaping attitudes held by people today, whether individuals values stem from this attitude and avenues for novelty to become better (Nietzsche, 2010 p 172). Nietzsche referred to ressentiment as a psychic mechanism. Psychic mechanisms are products of the swelled head, which result from the egos need to protect itself from a situation it perceives as a threat for example, situations that impact the belief and affect of an individual negatively. Psychologist Sigmund Freud later referred to these psychic mechanisms as excuse mechanisms and added more for example, denial, regression, sublimation and displacement among others. According to him, defense mechanisms acted as coping mechanisms for individuals. Moreover, they functioned to prevent a state of incongrue nce within an individual. Nietzsches ressentiment feeling is no antithetical from Freuds defense mechanisms because they all function to protect the individual and ensure minimal interference with their native state of balance. Normalcy in a persons psychological, physiological, cognitive, spiritual and social realms can single be achieved in the presence of internal balance. In this case, ressentiment functions to preserve balance by providing an outlet for pent up frustrations (Nietzsche, 2010 p. 173). In spite of the good brought about by psychic mechanisms, they also prove bad in the sense that they function to distort reality by cocooning an individual therefore, preventing them from dealing with inauspicious situations. Ressentiment as a reactive feeling provided an outlet for pent up frustrations however, it failed to equip the slaves and priests with the strength they require to overcome the nobles. In fact, the dynamics in the social hierarchy remained unaltered with the nobles living in their mirthful state whereas their subordinates living in their pitiful state. People living in todays baseball club have not undergone a huge transformation in their mindset. In fact, many find themselves fetching the easier way out, cowering from confronting issues. This is because stratifications in different aspects of the society are still in present. Arising from these stratifications in the society is a privileged class equipped with resources and the power to define morality in its entirety. The underprivileged, subordinate class