Übermensch: Follow Your Own Star

At the end of the 19th century, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche shocked European society by declaring “God is dead.” The death of God he spoke of was not merely the downfall of religion, but the collapse of the absolute values and morality that supported Western civilization.

In an age of Nihilism where absolute answers had disappeared, Nietzsche presented us with a new image of humanity: the ‘Übermensch (Overman).’

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I. Three Metamorphoses of the Spirit

In his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche compared how the human spirit evolves to three stages of mammals:

1. The Camel: Obedience and endurance. The stage of carrying the heavy burden of social norms and morality, living according to the duty “Thou shalt.”
2. The Lion: Negation and freedom. The camel changes into a lion in the middle of the desert. It is a destructive and free stage that shouts “No” toward existing values and declares “I will.”
3. The Child: Affirmation and creation. The lion finally becomes a child. The child is forgetfulness, a new beginning, and a game. It is the stage of the ‘Holy Yes’ that creates its own values and affirmatively affirms life.

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II. Übermensch: A Being of Self-Overcoming

The Übermensch is not a person with supernatural powers superior to others. They are ‘one who overcomes their past self.’

• Amor Fati: Loving one’s own fate. It is an attitude of affirming one’s life enough to shout “Once more!” even if it is painful.
• Will to Power: Not a desire to rule others, but the essence of the vital force to complete and create oneself.
• Eternal Recurrence: The ultimate question of whether you would make the same choices even if your life were repeated infinitely. The Übermensch is one who lives a life that can confidently answer “Yes” to this question.

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III. Modern Society and the Übermensch

Today, we live carrying new ‘camel burdens’ called algorithms and the gaze of others. The Übermensch of our time is a person who:

• Discards the criteria of success set by others and establishes their own values.
• Uses pain as fuel for growth rather than avoiding it.
• Regards life as a work of art and meticulously shapes every moment.

Conclusion: The Path You Walk is the Truth

Nietzsche told us, “Do not follow me, follow yourself.” For truth is not a fixed mountain range, but a path created anew every time you take a step.

Your soul is too magnificent to live like a camel, and your creative instincts are too precious to remain like a lion. Today, with a pure heart like a child, declare your own new values. The moment you answer ‘Yes’ to your own life, you have already entered the path of the Übermensch.