'Either/Or: A Fragment of Life' by Søren Kierkegaard is a philosophical work divided into two parts - the aesthetic and the ethical. The first part, written by an ironic aesthete named A, contains witty aphorisms, essays on Mozart's Don Giovanni and tragedy, and insights on dealing with boredom, ending with the seducer's diary. The second part consists of letters from an ethicist, Judge Wilhelm, presenting the existential choice of 'either/or'. explores the dichotomy between living aesthetically and morally, leaving the reader to decide the ideal way of life.
Kierkegaard's writing in 'Either/Or' is described as poetic and engaging, offering complex and layered insights into living. is not a straightforward philosophical essay but rather a collection of papers from different aesthetic angles, with colorful, thought-provoking passages. It delves into the themes of choice, individuality, and the pursuit of either beauty and pleasure or adherence to ethical principles, challenging readers to consider the balance between the two ways of living.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers/content warnings for Either/Or include existential themes, discussions of despair, and possibly content related to seduction and relationships.
From The Publisher:
Søren Kierkegaard, the nineteenth-century Danish philosopher rediscovered in the twentieth century, is a major influence in contemporary philosophy, religion, and literature. He regarded Either/Or as the beginning of his authorship, although he had published two earlier works on Hans Christian Andersen and irony. The pseudonymous volumes of Either/Or are the writings of a young man (I) and of Judge William (II). The ironical young man's papers include a collection of sardonic aphorisms; essays on Mozart, modern drama, and boredom; and "The Seducer's Diary." The seeming miscellany is a reflective presentation of aspects of the "either," the esthetic view of life.
Part II is an older friend's "or," the ethical life of integrated, authentic personhood, elaborated in discussions of personal becoming and of marriage. The resolution of the "either/or" is left to the reader, for there is no Part III until the appearance of Stages on Life's Way. The poetic-reflective creations of a master stylist and imaginative impersonator, the two men write in distinctive ways appropriate to their respective positions.
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About the Author:
S¢ren Kierkegaard (1813-55) was born in Copenhagen, the youngest of seven children. His childhood was unhappy, clouded by the religious fervour of his father, and the death of his mother, his sisters and two brothers.
Educated at the School of Civic Virtue, he went on study theology, liberal arts and science at university, gaining a reputation for his academic brilliance and extravagant social life.
He began to criticize Christianity, and in 1841 broke off his engagement to concentrate on his writing. Over the next ten years he produced a flood of works, in particular twelve major philosophical essays, many written under noms de plume. By the end of his life he had become an object of public ridicule, but he is now enjoying increasing acclaim.
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