We always have a choice when making a decision in life: Either keep thinking and risk alienating yourself from society; or stop thinking and risk alienating yourself from reality. Yes, we are always in this dilemma. If you are not, then thank the super-human you believe.
`Life has no meaning, so why bother doing anything?`
The thought has most certainly occurred to everyone who has lived on earth to varying degrees (if you are not religious though or don’t believe in some super-human controlling us). The little voice is always asking about the efforts you are putting and suffering you endure throughout your life. Thus, most of us (non-religious people) seem to be influenced by the nihilistic thoughts, even we don’t know that.
Nietzsche (a German philosopher) begins his premise with the assumption that God does not exist, and if God does not exist, thus objective morality (it’s the disbelief that right and wrong are pure and consistent concepts given to us by God which can’t be) and inherent value are not possible since there is no ultimate being that exists to create morality and value in the first place.
So what? There are no moral grounds or no concepts or meaning to life? There is nothing we must care for or existence has no inherent meaning? If you believe in such thought, you may suffer existential suffering. This is passive nihilism which I think everybody must avoid.However, there are a set of nihilists (which I identify myself) who confronted with the exact same realization and rejoices the freedom it gives them. If there is meaning to human life, then each of us bound to follow it (but we need proof for that); but there is not, then we all have the freedom to decide the purpose of our own lives.
There is a theory about superman who will not fly or heap over a tall building or will not be faster than a bullet. As nihilists believed that there were no moral truths and the moral codes defined by Hinduism, Christianity or Islam are created in order to subjugate the masses. The popular belief in a single, universal morality that gives humanity purpose and direction was nothing more than an illusion.
Ubermensch (superman) is the person who is able to break from the illusion.
Nietzsche’s Ubermensch will act as his own God, giving himself morality and value as he sees fit according to him alone. The Ubermensch is neither slave or master as he does not impose his will upon others. The Ubermensch is an independent individual who has the power to banish herd instincts from his mind and become a master of self-discipline.
Above all, the Ubermensch is the next step in human evolution. Every human must deal with the question “What is the meaning of life”- some say, God and Heaven, others say ultimate objective virtue, but the Ubermensch will give life value that is not based on superstition or mystical folly. The Ubermensch finds value in his life experience because it cannot be reasoned out through argument and logic. The Ubermensch would say that the meaning of life is that you die, so make it valuable. Living by his own moral code gives the ubermensch a deep sense of morality a dutiful purpose. In this enlightened position, the ubermensch is dedicated solely to the advancement and betterment of humanity.
The Ubermensch is the opposite of Shiva or Allah or Jesus Christ. Übermensch is a result of man surpassing himself.
I personally can relate it to the Kalki avatar (Hinduism) described in our Vedas. I know nobody should think of relating mythology and philosophy (it’s logically wrong) but that’s what nihilist do, isn’t it?