Language Games = Mind Games

The truth of Nietzsche's discovery in the Genealogy of Morals is apparent when one considers the changes of meaning in the words egregious vs. gregarious and apology vs. apologia. Which makes sense, seeing that Nietzsche was an etymologist by profession.

Egregious used to mean exemplary, special, stronger, better and different from the common herd (gregarious being of the herd entirely). Now (after the revolution of herd morality) being singled out, now being better than the herd is different than the herd and bad, egregious now means somehow that being beyond the herd is bad or distasteful, even if it is stronger or better.

The same sense is also apparent when one considers the Attic Greek word Apologia meaning "Defense". In short, there is nothing apologetic about apologia - there is no humility or guilt associated with it. Apologia is a noble word - it takes and gives no quarter. The one defending may be right or wrong, but it is in the defense that the truth will be known, a struggle is necessarily implied (as opposed to a necessary capitulation and admission of guilt). When one apologizes they feel bad, and it is assumed they ought to. Not so in apologia, it is a righteous, spirited, noble sentiment expressed by it, whether they are right or wrong.

So now we have only egregious people who would have the audacity to defend their apology. Propaganda at its finest from the herd.