In contrast to classical Greek philosophy, Nietzsche believed that religion kept us from developing our true potential. He thought that humans had been corrupted by their belief in gods and myths, and had lost sight of the real meaning of life. Instead of living according to the virtue of their culture, we focus on the values of their society, which were dominated by the virtues of their culture. These virtuous people were called “good”, while those who didn’t follow the virtues were considered bad. To Nietzsche, this was the opposite of humanity becoming its own creator and was a result of slavery to a philosophy and a value system that prevented us from doing so.
Nietzsche believed that by being our true self will take us beyond good and evil. We are free to choose the values that suit us best and judge the morality of our actions is as seen as befitting of life or not. Such “will to power” gives rise to gifted individuals which he called the Übermensch – Superman.
