nietzsche's übermensch

based on nietzsche's "thus spake zarathustra"

Of the 19th century philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche is one of the most influential although he was not influential in his time. Rather, he was ostracized and persecuted for his anti-Christian beliefs. It was not until later that Nietzsche gained recognition and had an impact on modern philosophy. One of Nietzsche’s most well-known and popular works is Thus Spoke Zarathustra. In this work, Nietzsche criticizes the “herd morality” of religion. Instead of God, he raises up the ubermensch, or the overman, one who is superior to ordinary human beings. Nietzsche’s philosophy is applicable to today’s society; it would wake society from its lethargic state.
Nietzsche admired Greek mythology, and claimed that the original idea of good (good as defined by mythology) was that which was strong, brave and noble. In contrast, evil was that which was weak and humble . However, the invention of religion reversed those roles; it promoted humility and weakness and called it “good”, while condemning the strong as “evil”. Thus, the upper class went from being good to evil, and the lower class became good. Since religion was created by the weak, it was created in the interests of the lower class. It protected them from exploitation and cruelty by promoting and enforcing false virtues. These values included pity, democracy and equality. These virtues generated fear and vengeance towards the aristocrats, who were viewed as selfish brutes. Nietzsche regarded religious leaders and their followers as weaklings who were spiteful towards the upper class, who were noble, brave and strong . He called the belief that strong was good, “Master Morality”, and the belief that humbleness good, “Slave Morality” .
Master morality, of course, was superior because it was based on the belief that might makes right. Those who were strong and noble rose to power since no one would oppose them since those of the slave morality were not strong enough. In this way, Nietzsche’s theory is similar to the Darwinian theory of evolution; those who are fittest are those who survive. Complementing the master morality is slave morality.
Slave morality did not call people to rise to power, but rather to remain humble and submissive. It was also called “herd morality” because it was the morality of the general populace . It led society around blindly, without basis or explanation. Few dared to challenge or differ from the herd morality for fear of being ostracized and cast out, left to defend for oneself. In this way, one traded individuality for security. One did not obey the rules of good and bad because one believed in them; one followed the rules for fear of the consequences of not obeying them. Religion was a large contributor to herd morality, and it is ironic that humans are viewed as God’s flock of sheep. Nietzsche saw religion as an excuse for weakness. It permits and encourages people to stay miserable, without having any aim or goal in life. Religion, particularly Christianity, teaches people that those who suffer now will rejoice in the Kingdom of God, that those who serve will be served, and that those who are last will be first. “Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!” . Generally, religion teaches people to be content with their petty lives, confining them to mediocrity and submissiveness. He believed that mankind, as a whole, lacked goals or aim in life . Their only hope is to die, so that in death their meaning of life is found and fulfilled. Religion also closed one off; one worshipped God and devoted his life to him instead of trying to help himself or his fellow beings. “Now I love God; man I love not.” Nietzsche despised this philosophy; he was a strong believer of “will to power” . He saw religion as something outdated and useless. One of Nietzsche’s well known claim is that God is dead.
By saying that God is dead, Nietzsche meant that God never was. God, and consequently religion, was an invention that was outdated for his time. Society had no use for religion and could no longer use it as a foundation for morality . He believed that the time had come for people to examine and evaluate their traditional values, and to examine the premises on which they were based. Instead of being content with mediocrity, he wanted people to become something more, to evolve into a higher state. “The time has come for man to set himself a goal. The time has come for man to plant the seed of his highest hope.” This transcendence lay in the self, the desire to attain power and superiority.
Nietzsche believed that one should seek power in oneself to establish power for oneself. In this way, one is not subject to others’ authority. Nietzsche’s ideal was the Ubermensch, or overman. The overman was a being who was passionate, that is, someone who was not content with what he had and had to attain more . The overman would have control over his passion, however, and would use it creatively to generate original thought, devoid of herd morality which was the creation of the weak. The overman’s definition of good and evil would be largely subjective since Nietzsche believed that truth was inherent; one man’s vice would be another man’s virtue . Also, the overman would not be subject to petty desires or frustrations which are typical of ordinary human beings. The overman would live life fully so that when it came time to die, he would have no regrets. He would live life for life, instead of living for the afterlife as followers of religion do, “[s]hrouded in thick melancholy and eager for the little accidents that bring death, thus they wait with clenched teeth.” The overman is a contrast to the person ruled by religion, who would be content with what life had given him. His excuse would be that God had intended it to be that way, and that he would receive his reward in heaven. In addition, the overman would not be subject to the law of the general people, since he was above them. It follows that the overman would not believe in God, for what use would he have for God or religion? Religion preaches that those who serve God best are those who bear His burdens patiently; Nietzsche preaches that those who live life best are those who seek to cast off and overcome their burdens. “Thus I too once cast my delusion beyond man, like all the afterworldly.” This means that Zarathustra had once been a follower of religion, but had since cast off his delusion (his burden) to become a free thinking individual. Of course, the overman must not only overcome these things for himself but also for others. The overman would be the enlightened one who would teach all the others. The overman would be the highest form of human excellence .
One such form of human excellence is Zarathustra. In the Prologue, Nietzsche writes:

"Behold, I am weary of my wisdom, like a bee that has gathered too much honey; I need hands outstretched to receive it. ... For that I must descend to the depths, as you do in the evening when you go behind the sea and still bring light to the underworld, you overrich star. Like you, I must go under - go down, as is said by man, to whom I want to descend.”

"Your enemy you shall seek, your war you shall wage - for your thoughts. And if your thought be vanquished, then your honesty should still find cause for triumph in that. You should love peace as a means to new wars - and the short peace more than the long. To you I do not recommend work but struggle. To you I do not recommend peace but victory."

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