The ‘superman’ or ‘overman’ of Nietzsche’s ethical vision. The Übermensch transcends the boundaries of classes, creeds, and nationalities; he overcomes human nature itself, and maintains a lordly superiority to the normal shackles and conventions of social life. Although Nietzsche connects the character with Aristotelian virtue, the vision is essentially Romantic when Aristotle’s is not. The idea of a transfiguring freedom finds more pessimistic echoes in the existentialist doctrine that existence precedes essence. See also will to power.