Kierkegaard's Writings, XVI, Volume 16: Works of Love

The various kinds and conditions of love are a common theme for Kierkegaard, beginning with his early __Either/Or__, through "The Diary of the Seducer" and Judge William's eulogy on married love, to his last work, on the changelessness of God's love. __Works of Love__, the midpoint in the series, is also the monumental high point, because of its penetrating, illuminating analysis of the forms and sources of love. Love as feeling and mood is distinguished from works of love, love of the lovable from love of the unlovely, preferential love from love as the royal law, love as mutual egotism from triangular love, and erotic love from self-giving love. This work is marked by Kierkegaard's Socratic awareness of the reader, both as the center of awakened understanding and as the initiator of action. Written to be read aloud, the book conveys a keenness of thought and an insightful, poetic imagination that make such an attentive approach richly rewarding. __Works of Love__ not only serves as an excellent place to begin exploring the writings of Kierkegaard, but also rewards many rereadings. CONTENTS HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION Works of Love First Series PREFACE I. Love's Hidden Life and Its Recognizability by Its Fruits II. A. You Shall Love B. You Shall Love the Neighbor C. You Shall Love the Neighbor III. A. Romans 13:10. Love Is the Fulfilling of the Law B. Love Is a Matter of Conscience IV. Our Duty to Love the People We See V. Our Duty to Remain in Love's Debt to One Another Second Series PREFACE I. Love Builds Up II. Love Believes All Things—and Yet Is Never Deceived III. Love Hopes All Things—and Yet Is Never Put to Shame IV. Love Does Not Seek Its Own V. Love Hides a Multitude of Sins VI. Love Abides VII. Mercifulness, a Work of Love Even If It Can Give Nothing and Is Able to Do Nothing VIII. The Victory of the Conciliatory Spirit in Love, Which Wins the One Overcome IX. The Work of Love in Recollecting One Who Is Dead X. The Work of Love in Praising Love CONCLUSION SUPPLEMENT Key to References Original Title Pages of Works of Love, First and Second Series Selected Entries from Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers Pertaining to Works of Love EDITORIAL APPENDIX Acknowledgments Collation of Works of Love in the Danish Editions of Kierkegaard's Collected Works Notes Bibliographical Note Index