Lovitt: ÜBERMENSCH - SUPERMAN

"Overman" is the translation of der Übermensch  , which ordinarily means superhuman being, demigod, superman. The term "overman," introduced into Nietzsche   translation by Walter Kaufmann, has the advantage of avoiding the misinterpretations that lie ready to hand   in the usual translation as "superman." In keeping with Nietzsche’s presentation of der Übermensch in the figure of Zarathustra, Kaufmann regularly uses "the overman." Here the article has been dropped in the translation of the noun   in accordance with the fact that, as Heidegger’s ensuing discussion itself makes clear, Übermensch is not   intended in that discussion to refer at all to an individual man. Rather, the noun has a generic meaning-it refers to man, to humanity. Übermensch might almost be translated "man-beyond," for overman stands in contrast with man hitherto and goes beyond (hinausgeht . . . über) the latter in his surpassing of him. (QCT   p. 96)