Thanks Douglas, very interesting. I hadn't heard of Scheler or this idea of ressentiment. The natural question I would think to explore from this, is: what is the root cause of ressentiment, especially on the social and now global levels?

This is an issue I have been contemplating for 50+ years. To my mind, the root is linked inextricably with the existential crisis caused by the theory of evolution (no I am not what is commonly described as a creationist) which has for many decades now, somehow drawn people to respond to the underlying question of "what is the purpose of human existence?" with the rather wanting 'answer' that there is no purpose, that we are the result of a complex and prolonged series of biochemical accidents, that leaves us with no ultimate reason for being.

I'm not sure that Darwin himself held this view of our being without a 'lawful' place in the cosmos, but it is certainly the prevailing mode of unthinking thought in the world just now, and can easily be seen to have very profound psychological effects on people, such, I would suggest, as ressentiment and its ensuing chaotic anti-social, anti-human and anti-caring behaviours, which are abundantly evident and painful to witness.

Would be very interested to hear what you have explored in this direction.

Wiskey.