“Superman, German Übermensch, in philosophy, the superior man, who justifies the existence of the human race. “Superman” is a term significantly used by Friedrich Nietzsche, particularly in Also sprach Zarathustra (1883–85), although it had been employed by J.W. von Goethe and others. This superior man would not be a product of long evolution; rather, he would emerge when any man with superior potential completely masters himself and strikes off conventional Christian “herd morality” to create his own values, which are completely rooted in life on this earth.”
Nietzsche is generally credited with initially promoting the concept of the Ubermensch, which most scholars translate to the “Overman” or “Superman”. The fundamental philosophy posits that there are men who are so vastly more enlightened, transcendent, superior intellectually, morally, and physically that they are actually above the constraints of everyday, or the “average Joe’s”, rules of conduct. Many people in our country today seem to believe in this self-view. However, “herd mentality” does indeed serve some vital purposes. I will get to that in a bit when I put all of this together.
The tone for how the United States of America, or “The Great Experiment”, was established in the Declaration of Independence, a document written nearly 250 years ago and which we, as a country, still value as a guiding force in our collective belief system. In that document, it is clearly stated:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creatorwith certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
With much regret and apology to my good friend, Tim Hong, and I don’t mean to be argumentative, (actually, I do), we are, by virtue of our living as citizens of this great nation, held to a series of similar values and ethics… call it a social contract, if you will. In this inherently implied contract, we, by simply living here in the USA, are held to the idea that we all have our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as stated above. Incumbent with my ability to live my life seeking my version of life, liberty, and happiness, I am strictly prohibited from interfering with any other citizen’s search for life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. Thus, the social contract is established by default or in a negative sum capacity, if you will.
For example: If an American by the name of, say, John Collins wishes to practice a religion called, ” Voyeurism”, and to fulfill the mandates of his religion, he must find a 50 year-old, male virgin and throw him into the fiery pit of the Chapatula Volcano in New Orleans, John Collins can not go and kidnap the Virgin Tim Galvan and forcibly throw him into the volcano. No, indeed. The premise that John Collins has a right to practice his chosen religion CAN NOT override the idea that the Virgin Tim Galvan also has the same rights, and therefore his own puritanistic life is protected by the very same pretexts. So, why is this boring explanation even required in my ramblings so early on a Saturday morning? Allow me to pontificate further.
Recently I posted an article which described a young man, sitting in his own home, (ownership of property is germaine to the concept of the pursuit of happiness), minding his own business, when three… THREE!!!… young men who did not live in that home, nor did they pay rent or have any claim to ownership of that home or part of that home, made the decision to break into that home by force, wielding weapons to secure their own personal safety during the event. Obviously, these three young men did not believe that the “rules” applied to them. They believed they were above the mundane constraints of the rule of law. They were clearly adherents of the concept of the Superman according to Nietzsche. The owner of the home, feeling his life was threatened by these three young men, retrieved his AR15 and shot the three intruders, who subsequently died of lead poisoning. It is imperative to understand that when three healthy, strong, armed men enter one’s house, one’s safety and ability to pursue life, liberty, and happiness can be called into doubt, and fear or threat of losing those inalienable rights allows the individual to do whatever is necessary to once again secure those rights. Side note: This is not because the Declaration of Independence says so, but because these rights are “endowed” by our “creator”…
In response to this justified protection of the homeowner’s rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, I encountered a few more obvious disciples of Nietzsche’s philosophy. Generally speaking, I have often heard citizens who tend to lean more toward the liberal political view intimate that, due to their world view and level of emotional awareness, they are ‘enlightened” or somehow more “transcendent” than those who do not adhere to their worldview or share their emotional values. Clearly, these followers evidently believe that there are those who are not accountable to the “social contract” set forth in the founding documents, as evidenced by their responses, to wit:
“Why not shoot them in the legs instead of killing them?”
“Why did he have to use an AR with multiple rounds? He could have used a shotgun!”
“The boys had knives and brass knuckles, not guns…”
“How could he be sure (homeowner) that his life was in danger?”
Really? These people are so intelligent, so enlightened, so transcendent, that they have forgotten there are rules that everyone must follow? They truly believe that the color of one’s skin, or the age of a person, or the political beliefs or worldview of a person should be what determines whether the person should have to follow the same rules and guidelines of human decency that all others follow? I work in a prison. I have taught convicts that, at the age of twelve, killed entire families with their bare hands. I teach black, white, Hispanic, Asian, murderers, rapists, drug dealers, pimps… all whom thought they were above the law and could not get caught. I am amazed at the foothold that the concept of the Superman has taken in our society. These geniuses that believe they are above the law will continue to get killed by those of us who cling to our guns and Bibles, who are so ignorant and unenlightened, so deplorable, that we have not transcended yet. I will protect my right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness very time… I am an average Joe…
ajjinkins3 