• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.131
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• pp.77-103
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• 2014

It is well known that Nietzsche insists on the affirmation of life, and the subject of 'affirmation of life' is a familiar one in Nietzsche literature. We want to throw an unfamiliar light on this familiar subject, connecting the theme of affirmation with that of redemption, and insisting on the centrality of the theme of redemption in Zarathustra's teaching of ${\ddot{U}}bermensch$. For Nietzsche, the redemption of human life means that its life is endowed with some meaning and its existence is positively justified. With this redemption, an active affirmation of life is possible, which means that we not only endure this life once but also request it for indefinite times. According to Nietzsche, for this kind of redemption and active affirmation we need an ultimate ground of meaning and only the excellence of life, that is, of 'will to power' can serve as this ultimate ground. Accepting the Greek way of identifying virtue with excellence, Nietzsche thought that life can justify itself at the ultimate form of life in ${\ddot{U}}bermensch$. Then, through ${\ddot{U}}bermensch$ the way is opened for man to endow meanings on and justify its life. That is, ${\ddot{U}}bermensch$ is not only the one who affirms its life, but also the very condition in which humanity can justify its life in general. With the goal and ideal of ${\ddot{U}}bermensch$ accepted, the affirmation and redemption of an individual life depends on how it manages to create its own life in relation to this goal and ideal. According to Nietzsche, though we cannot go back to the past, we still can recreate it and change its meanings through working on the future. Only those who try to create a meaningful future and thus recreate the past could redeem and affirm their own lives. That is, for Nietzsche, to affirm and redeem one's life means not just to change one's attitude to life but to create and recreate it with the eye for ${\ddot{U}}bermensch$.