How the spirit becomes the Übermensch: a motivational metaphor of human power and capabilities

In my previous post on the overcoming of the meaninglessness of our lives, I mentioned that one way to overcome existential nihilism is to become an active nihilist.

An active nihilist believes that we should not put our hopes in an otherworld like heaven, and he believes that there is tremendous value in worldly suffering. The ultimate example of an active nihilist is the Übermensch.  

Nietzsche gives us a beautiful metaphor on how a spirit transforms into an Übermensch through several stages in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The development shows “how the spirit becomes a camel; and the camel, a lion; and the lion, finally, a child.” 

The spirit becomes a camel 

At first, the spirit becomes a camel when he decides to kneel down like a camel in order to become well-loaded with the heaviest spiritual burdens by entering unfamiliar territory. He tests his self-worth, looks for his place in the world by facing it head-on, and steps “into filthy waters when they are the waters of truth, and not repulsing cold frogs and hot toads.” The camel thus invites and embraces hardships and existential crises from which he can rejoice in his acquired strength and resilience to life.  

The camel becomes a lion 

Emancipated through suffering, the camel finally becomes a lion who will claim his powers to create “freedom for oneself for new creation”. To do so, the lion will have to battle and reject all created values and duties as imposed by tradition and society. They are represented by a dragon whose name is “Thou Shalt”. 

The lion becomes a child 

Once the lion defeats the dragon, he is finally free from external social controls. He has shown through his strength that he is able to destroy previous values. However, he must also be able to create his own values and recreate himself continuously. It is here that he transforms into a child who affirms life with a sacred “Yes”. The child is self-forgetting and continuously overcomes himself as he creates his own values and wills his own wills. At this stage, the spirit is a fluid personality overflowing with vitality and great health. He possesses high spirituality and independence of mind and action. He has the strength to be undaunted by suffering and disillusionment. 

He now, is the Übermensch.