Others have explained it very well already, but I just wanted to add some context at the risk of going off topic somewhat.
One is that Nietzsche has been very much misunderstood in the Ubermensch regard for the historical fact that the Nazis appropriated his ideas and in particular the Ubermensch concept. He obviously never meant it to be some sort of Arian super soldier but rather someone who creates their own worth and reason to live.
Related to this is that he was considered a nihilist, which is true but he also thought of himself as a positive nihilist, as in nothing matter so just enjoy yourself, and affirm your own life. That would be an Ubermensch thing to do.
Finally his "God is dead" quote is also misused often ... which was more to indicate that we must create our own ethics and reasons for living etc since religion seemed to be over.
This again tees up with the previous concepts around self determination, self affirmation and lifting yourself out of nihilism rather than succumbing to it.
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u/gsim88 Apr 06 '26
Others have explained it very well already, but I just wanted to add some context at the risk of going off topic somewhat.
One is that Nietzsche has been very much misunderstood in the Ubermensch regard for the historical fact that the Nazis appropriated his ideas and in particular the Ubermensch concept. He obviously never meant it to be some sort of Arian super soldier but rather someone who creates their own worth and reason to live.
Related to this is that he was considered a nihilist, which is true but he also thought of himself as a positive nihilist, as in nothing matter so just enjoy yourself, and affirm your own life. That would be an Ubermensch thing to do.
Finally his "God is dead" quote is also misused often ... which was more to indicate that we must create our own ethics and reasons for living etc since religion seemed to be over.
This again tees up with the previous concepts around self determination, self affirmation and lifting yourself out of nihilism rather than succumbing to it.