Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Spring 2023

Date of Submission

2023-09-08

Advisor

Dr. Irfan Muhammad, Visiting Faculty, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Abstract

This thesis explores the moral philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche through his infamous Übermensch as presented in his magnum opus, 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra,' a four-volume work packed with powerful aphorisms and philosophical musings. Against the backdrop of the prevailing systems of morality and the intellectual philosophical discourse of 19th-century Europe, Nietzsche challenged the notion of objective truth and argued for a subjective pursuit of excellence for the development of a higher being. The Übermensch signifies the higher being that Nietzsche hoped would redeem Europe from decadence.

Through a close reading of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, this thesis identifies three key traits that are central to Nietzsche's Übermensch: the lover of life, the creator of values, and the exemplar of self-overcoming. Through philosophical inquiry, this thesis then critically examines the ethical position of the Übermensch's traits in relation to the normative theories of deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. The reflective analysis that ensues argues that the complex ethical traits of the Übermensch offer a nuanced and compelling alternative to conceptualizing ethics. The rationale behind this research lies in its contribution to the intricate tapestry of ethics and morality. It offers a different perspective on the development of a higher self through an insightful exploration of Nietzsche's philosophy.

Pages

v, 41

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