Chronologically following human, all-too-human themes, "The Dawn" offers both a thematic and stylistic first peak of Nietzsche's philosophy. In these thoughts on moral prejudices, he critiques traditional moral judgments while also attempting to articulate his own goals. With "The Dawn," presented in four parts, Nietzsche begins his campaign against morality, develops his moral philosophy, and critiques existing moral concepts, the taken-for-granted nature of the moral law, and the self-understanding of people who organize their lives according to absolute moral principles.

The ideal is to strive for a person who is honest, who has the courage to embrace their own truth, and who realizes themselves in freedom. Nietzsche himself had little success with his work: "I feel only a certain dull astonishment when I think of the letters I have now received – everything is so insignificant, no one has experienced anything through me, no one has given a thought to me.".