."..oh, if there is a time and a place for jokes in eternity, I am convinced that the idea of my thin legs and my trousers, which have been the object of ridicule, will be my blessed amusement. In Eternity,-but, mind you, not a second before. " SK in reflection of himself summer 1848 after feeling the strain of the conflict with the magazine The Corsair.
I ask: what does it mean when we continue to behave as though all were as it should be, calling ourselves Christians according to the New Testament, when the ideals of the New Testament have gone out of life? The tremendous disproportion which this state of affairs represents has, moreover, been perceived by many. They like to give it this turn: the human race has outgrown Christianity.
sak 1852
Does miscommunication elicit comedy? When the Word became pork. When a German-Danish pastor declares, “the Word became pork( Fleisch)”this is comic. The comic is not just the ordinary contradiction that arises when someone speaks a foreign language he does not know and evoke by the words an effect totally different from the one he wants. But because he is pastor and he is preaching the contraindication is sharpened, since in a pastor's discourse speaking is used only in a more special sense, and the least that is assumed as a given is that he can speak the language. More over, the nontraditional strays into ethical territory: a person may innocently make himself guilty of blasphemy. Concluding Unscientific postscripts
It wasn't until December 1837 that Kierkegaard realised that he was defending Christianity from outwith it.
He said If Christ is to come in to his life it must be according to the Scriptures.
It would seem that he came in through locked doors.
On 18 May1838 he had an experience which represented a new beginning a "prodigal's return".
Later he said " I mean to have a more inward relation to Christianity".
Soren's approach to God is an interesting one which sits firmly with the notion you must love God first then your fellow man.
This love from a Christian standpoint is commanded: but the commandment of love is the old commandment which is always new.
His approach is very much to cultivate a God relationship. A God filled life...a Zoe life.
“Fear and Trembling” has three problems.
Problem 1
Is there a teleological suspension of the ethical?
(Is conscience higher than good?)
Problem 2
Is there an absolute duty to God?
(Do we have to do what is required?)
Problem 3
Was it ethically defensible of Abraham to conceal his purpose from Sarah, from Eleazar and from Isaac?
Kierkegaard's discourse on these problems astounds me, what a mind!
A little time after Kierkegaard's exams Peter Stilling searched out Kierkegaard's teacher, a man named Brochner. Stilling reckoned that he could complete his philosophy studies in a year and a half, after all Stilling had noted Kierkegaard had not taken any more time. “Ah yes” said Brochner, “Don't fool yourself! Soren Kierkegaard was something else, he could do everything”.
Its safe to say after all the different commentators have spoken, we can have them agree quickly:
that Kierkegaard was not a philosopher of the traditional sense.
Readers of Kierkegaard's work do not see clear lines of argument, he writes in a different name, then claims that it was him in directly and then critiques his own writing.!
One reason for this could be to allow and facilitate the reader to think beyond who actually wrote it i.e. Kierkegaard to a higher level.
In his work the logic is sound but not easily digested in some free like fashion.
I read his work and think this is deep and then on reading and reflection think no its quite light, in insight, strangely again on reflection I see it as even deeper than the first time!
Some cannot simply say he stood for.. and give a paragraph summary of the essence of his thinking.
Within his writing Kierkegaard's self recognition gives rise to a sequence as follows.
Aesthetic immediacy
finite common sense
Irony
ethics with irony as its incognito
Humour
religiousness with humour as its incognito
Immanenal religiousness (Socrates)
Paradox
Christianity.
“Humour is the last stage of existence- inwardness before faith”.
so
Irony to humour, to religious, to awakening, to Christianity.
Interesting?!
BUSTLING ACTIVITY ON THE SINKING SHIP
The youngest of seven children, Soren Aabye Kierkegaard was born in 1813 in Copenhagen. His sisters, mother and two of his brothers died before he was 21. His father was a sober, religious man who clouded his childhood. After seven years of study he starting criticising Christianity, the Christianity that his father advocated. It was in 1840 that he passed his theological degree.
After breaking of his engagement to Regine Olsen in 1841, he devoted himself to his writing. Kierkegaard has attracted attention from philosophers and writers, from inside and outside of the post-modern tradition.
I would appreciate comments and views from his readers on this man and his writings.
Main writings of S A Kierkegaard.
"Is this the road to London? Yes indeed if you turn around"
List of main writings over his lifetime.
1838
From the papers of one still living - published against his will.
1841
Concept of irony
1843
Either/or
Two edifying discourses
Fear and trembling
Repetition
Three edifying discourses
Four edifying discourses
1844
Two edifying discourses
Three edifying discourses
Philosophical fragments
The concept of anxiety
Prefaces
Four edifying discourses
1845
Three discourses on imagined occasions
Stages on life's way
1846
Concluding unscientific postscript
Two ages; a literary review
1847
Edifying discourses in various spirits
Works of love
1848
Christian discourses
The crisis and a crisis in the life of an actress
1849
The lilies of the field and the birds of the air
Two minor ehtico-religious treatises
The sickness unto death
Three discourses at communion on Fridays
1850
Practice in Christianity
An edifying discourse
1851
On my work as an author
Two discourses at communion on Fridays
For self examination
1855
This must be said let it be said
Christ's judgement on official Christiantiy
The unchangeableness of God
#
1859
The point of view for my work
1869
De Omnibus Dubitandum Est
1872
A P Adler and his revelation
1876
Judge for yourself
Names, authors and pseudonyms
S Kierkegaard
Victor Eremita
Johannes De Silentio
Vigilius Haufniesis
Nicholaus Notabene
Hilarius Bookbinder
Johannes Climacus
H.H
Anti-climacus
I found this book on Kierkegaard balanced and helpful. It would be a good book as an introduction for a new reader. It has been available in the UK for a few years.
