Nietzsche′s Dawn Philosophy, Ethics, and the Passion of Knowledge

"The authors provide insightful analyses of the main themes of Dawn, thereby demonstrating its key role in the overall development of Nietzsche's philosophy. A must read to discover—or rediscover—this oft neglected work."
— Christine Daigle, Brock University

"In this thoroughly illuminating study, Ansell-Pearson and Bamford approach Nietzsche's Dawn as a philosophical performance, situating the primary text in relation to the work it was intended to do. The authors offer an exceptionally detailed analysis of Dawn's project and its significance for the development of Nietzsche's philosophy."
— David Owen, University of Southampton

Published in 1881, Dawn: Thoughts on the Presumptions of Morality (sometimes translated as Daybreak) was written at a turning point in Nietzsche's intellectual life and marks a significant departure from the German philosophical tradition of the nineteenth century. Though groundbreaking in many ways, Dawn remains the least studied text in Nietzsche's body of work, but has experienced a resurgence of interest as trends in contemporary research have focused on Nietzsche's naturalism and his futurism. In Nietzsche's Dawn: Philosophy, Ethics, and the Passion of Knowledge, authors Keith Ansell-Pearson and Rebecca Bamford undertake a thorough analysis of the second installment in Nietzsche's so-called free spirit trilogy.

Nietzsche's Dawn articulates Dawn's nascent contributions to the signature doctrines of Nietzsche's mature scholarship, and examines the continuing relevance of his critique of fear, superstition, and moral and religious fanaticism. Ansell-Pearson and Bamford highlight Dawn's social-psychological insights and its critical reflections on traditional morality, making connections with recent scholarship on skepticism, ethical naturalism and experimentalism, and the art of living well. The volume opens with an introduction to Dawn and to reading Nietzsche's work, surveying his literary and philosophical influences to give a full picture of Dawn's cultural and ideological context. Later chapters address a wide range of topics relevant to Dawn, including presumptions of customary morality, hatred of the self, free-minded thinking, and the commitment to the pursuit of the passion of knowledge.

Original and incisive, Nietzsche's Dawn imaginatively explores one of Nietzsche's most underappreciated major works, and is essential reading for scholars and interpreters of Nietzsche and his middle-period writings, as well as general readers with an interest in his life and thought.

The first focused study of Nietzsche's Dawn, offering a close reading of the text by two of the leading scholars on the philosophy of Nietzsche

Published in 1881, Dawn: Thoughts on the Presumptions of Morality represents a significant moment in the development of Nietzsche’s philosophy and his break with German philosophic thought. Though groundbreaking in many ways, Dawn remains the least studied of Nietzsche's work. In Nietzsche's Dawn: Philosophy, Ethics, and the Passion of Knowledge, authors Keith Ansell-Pearson and Rebecca Bamford present a thorough treatment of the second of Nietzsche’s so-called “free spirit” trilogy.

This unique book explores Nietzsche’s philosophy at the time of Dawn's writing and discusses the modern relevance of themes such as fear, superstition, terror, and moral and religious fanaticism. The authors highlight Dawn's links with key areas of philosophical inquiry, such as "the art of living well," skepticism, and naturalism. The book begins by introducing Dawn and discussing how to read Nietzsche, his literary and philosophical influences, his relation to German philosophy, and his efforts to advance his "free spirit" philosophy. Subsequent discussions address a wide range of topics relevant to Dawn, including presumptions of customary morality, hatred of the self, free-minded thinking, and embracing science and the passion of knowledge. Providing a lively and imaginative engagement with Nietzsche's text, this book:

• Highlights the importance of an often-neglected text from Nietzsche's middle writings
• Examines Nietzsche's campaign against customary morality
• Discusses Nietzsche's responsiveness to key Enlightenment ideas
• Offers insights on Nietzsche's philosophical practice and influences
• Contextualizes a long-overlooked work by Nietzsche within the philosopher's life of writing

Like no other book on the subject, Nietzsche's Dawn: Philosophy, Ethics, and the Passion of Knowledge is a must-read for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, instructors, and scholars in philosophy, as well as general readers with interest in Nietzsche, particularly his middle writings.