Either/or : a fragment of life. Part 2, Containing the papers of B, letters to A

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. [From the back cover.]

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.

The Esthetic Validity of Marriage 3 The Balance between the Esthetic and the Ethical in the Development of the Personality 155 Ultimatum [A Final Word] The Upbuilding That Lies in the Thought That in Relation to God We Are Always in the Wrong 335 Supplement 355 Key to References 356 Original Title Page of Either/Or, Part II 358 Selected Entries from Kierkegaard’s Journals and Papers pertaining to Either/Or, Parts I-II 361 Editorial Appendix 460 Acknowledgments 463 Collation of Either/Or, Part II, in the Danish Editions of Kierkegaard’s Collected Works 465 Notes 469 Bibliographical Note 509 Index 511 Soren 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. These pseudonymous volumes of Either/Or are the writings of a young man and of Judge William. A reflective presentation of aspects of the "either," the esthetic view of life. It offers a collection of sardonic aphorisms that include essays on Mozart, modern drama, and boredom; and "The Seducer's Diary". Et Filosofisk Værk Der I Form Af Aforismer, æstetiske Afhandlinger Og Små Romaner Skildrer Livets Stadier