In Daybreak: Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality, Nietzsche embarks on a bold critique of traditional morality that not only challenges its assumptions but also lays the groundwork for his larger philosophical project—a radical revaluation of values that would come to define his mature work. The book represents a significant turning point in Nietzsche’s intellectual development, marking the transition from his earlier, more positivist writings to the more existential and iconoclastic themes of his later work. It is in Daybreak that Nietzsche first systematically confronts the moral framework that had dominated Western thought, particularly focusing on the origins and psychological underpinnings of moral judgments.
The philosophical terrain Nietzsche explores in Daybreak is both vast and intricate, as he examines the prejudices that have long been embedded in moral thinking. In this work, Nietzsche critiques the assumptions underlying concepts like guilt, responsibility, and autonomy, all of which he believes are grounded in metaphysical errors. He moves away from the idea of human beings as free agents capable of autonomous action, emphasizing instead the physiological and psychological conditions that shape human behavior. This marks a decisive break from earlier thinkers like Kant and Schopenhauer, whose moral philosophies he both inherits and contests. Nietzsche argues that traditional morality, with its emphasis on self-sacrifice and altruism, inhibits human flourishing and is rooted in a misguided understanding of human nature.
Nietzsche’s critique of morality in Daybreak is twofold: he contests the metaphysical presuppositions that underlie moral judgments and the harmful effects that these judgments have on human life. He rejects the notion that moral actions can be explained in terms of a higher, non-natural order—whether that be divine will, categorical imperatives, or metaphysical laws. Instead, he offers a naturalistic explanation for moral behavior, viewing human actions as expressions of physiological drives and psychological states. In this way, Nietzsche turns the moral discourse on its head, arguing that morality, far from being a reflection of universal truths, is a product of contingent historical and psychological forces.
The work in Daybreak is marked by Nietzsche’s growing disillusionment with the ideals of self-denial, compassion, and asceticism that had been revered by philosophers like Schopenhauer. Where Schopenhauer had elevated compassion to a moral ideal, Nietzsche challenges the very notion that compassion and other so-called “unegoistic” motives can be regarded as morally superior. For Nietzsche, all human actions, no matter how seemingly altruistic, are ultimately rooted in egoism. This psychological egoism forms the cornerstone of Nietzsche’s critique of morality, as he argues that traditional moral systems have falsely elevated certain drives—those of self-sacrifice and compassion—while repressing others that might better serve human flourishing.
Nietzsche’s radical rethinking of morality in Daybreak is not merely an intellectual exercise, it is also a plea to rethink the very foundations of human existence. The critique of morality in Daybreak serves as a precursor to Nietzsche’s later works, such as Beyond Good and Evil and On the Genealogy of Morality, where these themes are explored more fully. In these later works, Nietzsche expands on the insights he first articulates in Daybreak, moving toward a more expansive critique of the moral tradition and its destructive effects on human potential.
One of the key themes in Daybreak is the way in which morality, far from being a universal truth, is a set of psychological mechanisms that arise from specific historical conditions. Nietzsche is particularly critical of the way in which moral systems have been used to suppress human vitality and creativity. He argues that conventional morality, with its emphasis on duty, sacrifice, and self-denial, stifles individuality and encourages conformity to societal norms. This moral framework, according to Nietzsche, has become so entrenched in Western culture that it has shaped not only the way people think but also how they perceive themselves and their capacity for greatness.
At the heart of Nietzsche’s critique is the claim that the moral values that have dominated Western thought—particularly those of Christianity—are rooted in a denial of life itself. These values, Nietzsche argues, are a form of life-denial because they devalue the body, the senses, and the natural world, privileging instead an imagined higher realm of ideals. In Daybreak, Nietzsche examines how these life-denying values were constructed and the psychological mechanisms by which they were internalized by individuals. He argues that the moral systems that have shaped human history are not based on objective truths but are instead products of human psychology and the interplay of power dynamics within society.
Nietzsche’s naturalism in Daybreak cannot be reduced to the rejection of metaphysical claims, it’s a desire for a more honest, more grounded understanding of human nature. He contends that by rejecting the metaphysical assumptions that underlie moral systems, we can begin to see human beings for what they truly are: not autonomous, self-determining agents, but complex organisms shaped by physiological needs, instincts, and drives. This naturalistic conception of the person is central to Nietzsche’s philosophy and marks a decisive break from the idealistic traditions of his predecessors.
Nietzsche is deeply concerned with the ways in which morality affects individual lives. In Daybreak, he expresses a growing concern with how the moral system has damaged individuals by enforcing conformity and promoting self-denial. He suggests that the moral ideals of self-sacrifice, humility, and compassion have been used as tools of control, making people feel guilty for pursuing their own desires and for cultivating their own strengths. Nietzsche’s project in Daybreak is an attempt to free individuals from the moral constraints that have, in his view, hindered human development and greatness.
The implications of Nietzsche’s critique are far-reaching. By questioning the assumptions of traditional morality and offering a new, naturalistic explanation for human behavior, Nietzsche sets the stage for his later work on the “overman” and the idea of a life-affirming philosophy that embraces human potential in all its forms. Daybreak is an invitation to reconsider what it means to embrace life in its fullness, free from the moral prejudices that have so often held humanity back.
As an important work in the Nietzschean corpus, Daybreak remains a crucial text for understanding the trajectory of Nietzsche’s thought. It marks the transition from his early, more positivist work to his later, more existential and radical critiques of morality. In Daybreak, Nietzsche begins to develop the ideas that would later come to define his philosophy: a deep skepticism of conventional morality, a rejection of metaphysical explanations, and a call for a radical revaluation of values. This edition, edited by Maudemarie Clark and Brian Leiter, provides a fresh perspective on a work that has often been overshadowed by Nietzsche’s more famous later writings, offering readers an opportunity to engage with the foundational ideas that would shape the course of modern philosophy.
Simon Gros 
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