The German word “bermensch” is pronounced “OO-ber-mensh.” It is a compound word made up of “ber” (over, above) and “Mensch” (human). The term was first used by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in his 1883 book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.” Nietzsche used the term to describe a hypothetical future human being who would be superior to the current human being, both physically and mentally.
The concept of the bermensch has been influential in Western thought since Nietzsche’s time. It has been used to justify everything from fascism to eugenics. However, it is important to remember that Nietzsche’s bermensch was not a political or racial ideal. Rather, it was a philosophical ideal, a vision of what humanity could become if it were to transcend its current limitations.
