What is the logic behind Linux nice values?

Question

Wouldn't it be nice if nice values in Linux were switched:
-20 = low priority
+20 = high priority

$ renice -p +5 # would get more CPU time and
$ renice -p -5 # less

Why was it selected to be inversed?

Answer 1

From Wikipedia:

The name "niceness" originates from the idea that a process with a higher niceness value is "nicer" to other processes in the system, as it allows the other processes more CPU time.