Beyond good and evil

Abstract

TOWARD THE END OF JUNE 1885, Nietzsche wrote to Resa von Schirnhofer that he was dictating to Louise Röder-Wiederhold for several hours a day his “thoughts on the dear Europeans of today and — tomorrow” (meine Gedanken über die lieben Europäer von heute und — Morgen; KSB 7, 59). Thirteen months later, these thoughts were published as the “dangerous” book Beyond Good and Evil (Jenseits von Gut und Böse, 1886). The book developed out of a reworking of Human, All Too Human (Menschliches, Allzumenschliches), and it was originally conceived as a companion volume to Daybreak (Morgenröthe). Toward the end of March, Nietzsche baptized it Beyond Good and Evil, a title adopted from the section “Retired” (Ausser Dienst) in Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Also sprach Zarathustra; KSA 4, 324, cf. BGE §153; KSA 5, 99). After a difficult series of negotiations with potential publishers, he decided to bring out the book himself and to print it with C. G. Naumann in Leipzig. The proofing and printing took place in June and July 1886; his friend, Peter Gast, was closely involved in the editorial process. On 4 August 1886, Nietzsche received the first printed copies. Nietzsche wrote Beyond Good and Evil while he was staying in Sils-Maria, Naumburg, Leipzig, and Nice. Prompted by recurring eye problems and migraines, he had been an ever more passionate visitor of “the South” since 1876 (especially Genoa, Venice, and Nice), searching for haunts where the atmosphere was not too “electric” and cloudy.