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Überwindung

Überwindung is a German noun meaning the act of overcoming, surmounting, or defeating an obstacle, limitation, or negation. It can refer to physical conquest, moral progress, or overcoming psychological barriers such as fear or doubt.

Etymology: The word is formed from the verb überwinden (to overcome) with the prefix über- meaning over.

Philosophical usage: In German philosophy, Überwindung denotes the movement by which a certain moment is negated

Everyday and psychological usage: In ordinary language, Überwindung describes overcoming difficulties, fears, or injuries, or the

See also: Aufhebung; Selbstüberwindung; Bewältigung.

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The
noun
denotes
the
process
or
result
of
such
overcoming
and
has
been
used
in
German
since
the
early
modern
period.
and
yet
preserved
in
a
higher
unity.
It
is
closely
associated
with
the
concept
of
Aufhebung
in
Hegelian
dialectics,
where
a
contradiction
is
resolved
by
transcending
it
while
retaining
its
positive
elements.
The
term
also
appears
in
Nietzsche's
discussions
of
Selbstüberwindung,
the
self
surpassing
itself
to
become
something
new.
progression
of
a
person
overcoming
obstacles.
In
psychology
and
self-help
discourse,
it
emphasizes
active
striving
to
surpass
personal
limits
and
is
sometimes
contrasted
with
Bewältigung
(coping),
which
denotes
managing
or
coping
with
a
situation
rather
than
transcending
it.