Inversion

[Chris]

I take these quotes on inversion from Friedrich Nietzsche.

"Brethren, war's the origin
Of happiness on earth:
Powder-smoke and battle-din
Witness friendship's birth!
Friendship means three things, you know,—
Kinship in luckless plight,
Equality before the foe
Freedom—in death's sight!"

The Gay Science, §41, Jest, Ruse and Revenge, p. 23

"Christianity has sided with all that is weak and base, with all failures; it has made an ideal of whatever contradicts the instinct of the strong life to preserve itself. . ."

The Antichrist, The Portable Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kaufmann, p. 571

"Christianity is a revolt of everything that crawls along the ground directed against that which is elevated: the Gospel of the 'lowly' makes low. . ."

The Anti-Christ, Section 43

"The Jews—a people 'born for slavery,' as Tacitus and the whole ancient world say; 'the chosen people among the peoples,' as they themselves say and believe—the Jews have brought off that miraculous feat of an inversion of values. . .This inversion of values (which includes using the word 'poor' as synonymous with 'holy' and 'friend') constitutes the significance of the Jewish people: they mark the beginning of the slave rebellion in morals."

Beyond Good and Evil, p. 108, Section 195, "Natural History of Morals"


More on inversion:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12, see also Psalm 1, Luke 6:20-23


So Judeo-Christianity inverted the old order and, it seems, modernity has inverted it back?

[Cotton1]

Chris, maybe I'm missing something. What in your opinion is the primary focus of inversion? Is it to give hope, relay a feeling of inclusion for all or what ?

[Chris]

Chris, maybe I'm missing something. What in your opinion is the primary focus of inversion? Is it to give hope, relay a feeling of inclusion for all or what ?

Universality? As opposed to a Nietzschean particularity? I don't know. Christianity also introduced individuality, as in an individual relationship with God/Jesus.