Ubermensch. Translated from German literally means 'superhuman' and Friedrich Nietzsche's idea of evolving into a superior race is a dangerous one. Zarathustra, the protagonist in Nietzsche's book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, asserts that "man is something which ought to be overcome:"
Men throughout history have attempted to create a 'master race', the most notable example being Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. But Nietzsche himself would be turning in his grave at Hitler's ideologies. Friedrich despised anti-Semitism, but his sister, Elisabeth, (who was anti-Semitic) after his death in 1900 hijacked his writings and used them to serve the Nazi cause, staining Friedrich's works for ever. Nietzsche lived in fear of being misunderstood which is made clear in his book Ecce Homo, “do not mistake me for someone else.” The idea that Nazism stemmed from Friedrich 's 'Ubermensch' couldn't be further from the truth, Nietzsche described his sister as “a vengeful anti-Semitic goose” so to think that he would be of the same ideological standing as Hitler would be absurd.
'The Ubermensch' are Nietzsche's concept of evolutionary theory, they are the next step in humanity's journey. The gap between 'Ubermensch' and humans would be as big as that between apes and humans now, so to say it's simply the next step in evolution is an understatement. When reading Nietzsche's views on 'The Ubermensch' I cannot help but contrast his views with those of H.G Wells in his novel 'The Time Machine' where rather than evolve into an 'overman' the human race regress into a creature known as the Eloi who are afraid of the dark. It is interesting to see the contrasting views of two highly respected men whose life spans overlapped. Nietzsche dreams of a utopia when spitballing the idea of 'The Ubermensche' which is in direct contrast to the dystopic image Wells conjures up in The Time Machine.
We can see 'the Ubermesnch' idea in action today. The olympic games, a contest between the strongest and quickeset athletes in the world and when an athlete such as Usain Bolt Wipes the floor with the other athletes in such a manner then one has to wonder if there are genetic reasons behind his domination of the numerous events he enters.
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The concept of Ubermensch has very little to do with physical and biological evolution. It is over coming societal conditions and other forms of conditioning that we experience from childhood. It is the rejection of concepts like morality and questioning notions of almost all the famous religions. Nonetheless the Ubermensch is always a spiritual man. It might seem like an abstract concept, but once you try to be the Ubermensch, strive towards that path, you will understand what Nietzsche was really talking about. You cannot have an outsiders' view of the Ubermensch, you must be or atleast try to be him to understand it clearly.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to admit that i'm not a scholar on this subject and have not attempted and probably will not attempt to be Ubermensch. This is just my perspective on Nietzsche's theory.
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