The Superior Man: Beyond Good and Evil…

Nietzsche espoused the idea that the ‘superior man’ was, by definition, ‘beyond good and evil’ and was therefore not bound by the rules of society. This concept has led a number of people into serious trouble. Dostoevsky explored this idea in his novel Crime and Punishment, in which the protagonist took the position that he could disregard the rules that forbid theft and murder. Eventually, Raskolnikov broke down under the pressure and essentially had to acknowledge that he was not the ‘superior man’ he had imagined. What he did not recognise was that being ‘beyond good and evil’ does not mean condoning, supporting or carrying out mayhem on others!

A similar interpretation led Hitler and his cronies to believe that they had the right to exterminate millions of people, confiscate possessions, and wage a world war of domination on others.

It is a common misconception that somehow one can acknowledge oneself as a ‘superior man’ and thereby flaunt all the rules established by Reason, and disregard all questions of ethics or morality as established within human society.

The arrogant spirit that underpins these manifestations is not limited to the Hitlers and other dictatorial spirits of the world, but also shows itself in every walk of life, within the hearts of many who, by virtue of their wealth, their social standing, their reputation, their educational or career accomplishments, or simply because of the color of their skin, or their gender, or other superficial characteristics, feel themselves to be superior to others and thereby in a position to dominate, control and overpower others, while at the same time, granting themselves a freedom that is in fact license to commit any number of heinous acts.

The Mother writes: “One can be free only by soaring to the heights, high above human passions. Only when one has achieved a higher, self-less freedom and done away with all desires and impulses does one have the right to be free.”

“But neither should people who are very reasonable, very moral according to ordinary social laws, think themselves wise, for their wisdom is an illusion and holds no profound truth.”

One who would break the law must be above the law. One who would ignore conventions must be above conventions. One who would despise all rules must be above all rules. And the motive of this liberation should never be a personal, egoistic one: the desire to satisfy an ambition, aggrandise one’s personality, through a feeling of superiority, out of contempt for others, to set oneself above the herd and regard it with condescension. Be on your guard when you feel yourself superior and look down on others ironically, as if to say, ‘I’m no longer made of such stuff.’ That’s when you go off the track and are in danger of falling into an abyss.”

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Our Many Selves: Practical Yogic Psychology, Chapter 2, Planes and Parts of the Being, pp. 44-45