kierkegaard and the political

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Kierkegaard and the Political


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Kierkegaard and the Political

Edited by

Alison Assiter and Margherita Tonon


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Kierkegaard and the Political,Edited by Alison Assiter and Margherita Tonon

This book first published 2012

Cambridge Scholars Publishing 12 Back Chapman Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2XX, UK

British Library Cataloguing in Publication DataA catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Copyright 2012 by Alison Assiter and Margherita Tonon and contributors

All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or

otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

ISBN (10): 1-4438-4061-0, ISBN (13): 978-1-4438-4061-3


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The editors would like to thank all the participants in the conferenceKierke!aard and the "olitical#$ fro% which this &olu%e e%er!ed' The

conference was hosted () the Depart%ent of "olitics# "hilosoph) and*nternational +elations at the ,ni&ersit) of the West of En!land# -ristol# in

April ./0/' -ut the) would like to offer a hu!e thank )ou to Elisa(ethSal&erda whose work as a cop) editor &astl) e1ceeded what one woulde1pect of so%eone in such a role' To our knowled!e it is the first ti%e shehas e&er done this kind of work'


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I NTRODUCTION

To address the issue of Kierkegaard and the political appears at firstsight as a paradoxical task. The philosopher of inwardness and ofirreducible indi idualit! see"s to ha e little to teach us about the sphereof the political# not onl! was this di"ension ne er explicitl! addressed inwritings of the Danish philosopher$ but also the positions he took withregard to such a do"ain were alwa!s "arked b! a strong critical attitude.%oreo er$ he appeared to be a conser ati e with regard to an! "o e"enttowards de"ocratisation and e&ualit!$ opposing liberal de"ocrac! as wellas socialis"$ while not refraining fro" taking up explicitl! "isog!nous positions. 'ith this in "ind$ one could easil! dis"iss Kierkegaardian philosoph! as exclusi el! rele ant to the pri ate do"ain of indi idualexistence and irre"ediabl! unable to speak to wider concerns such asthose encountered in the public di"ension. In fact$ the Danish philosopher(s e"phasis on the irreducible singularit! of existence see"s too erlook all for"s of participation in social and political institutions as adangerous di ersion fro" the i"portant task of being and beco"ingoneself. )or the sake of such a task$ the onl! relation with the other thatreall! "atters is with the absolute otherness of *od. Thus$ at first sight$Kierkegaard(s turn towards interiorit! and transcendence see"s to take place at the expense of the political.

+owe er$ in spite of his e"phasis on singularit!$ or perhaps precisel! because of it$ o er the !ears Kierkegaard(s philosoph! has gi en rise tointerpretations that recognise its rele ance for the political. )or instance$the crucial i"portance of ideas such as self,choice$ earnestness andsub-ecti e passion are easil! i"ported fro" the indi idual sphere into the

real" of the political$ co"ing to ha e a bearing on notions such asresponsibilit! and co""it"ent. In addition$ Kierkegaard(s accent on theirreducibilit! of the indi idual to the uni ersal interestingl! resonates inthose for"s of thinking that fro" the "argins call into &uestion thedo"ination of an exclusionar! "odel of reason. i"ilarl!$ Kierkegaard(sre-ection of the institutions and alues of his ti"e does not resol e itself in"ere intellectual and spiritual isolation$ but inaugurates a criti&ue of theills of his age$ which is rich in social and political i"plications.)urther"ore$ the religious writings the"sel es$ in outlining new "odels of

self,other relations$ offer potentiall! sub ersi e wa!s of politicalresistance. In short$ fro" Critical Theor! to /xistentialis"$ toDeconstruction and )e"inist philosoph! 0e en despite the scattered


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1 Introduction

"isog!nistic re"arks of the Danish philosopher2$ the political potential ofKierkegaard(s "essage ne er went undetected.

'hile the potential political ra"ifications of certain Kierkegaardianthe"es co"e into focus in the 13th centur! philosophical reception of theDanish philosopher$ the a ailable secondar! literature ne er directl!addresses the the"e of the political as such.4 This book sets itself the purpose of filling this gap$ explicitl! engaging with the political potentialand i"plications of Kierkegaard(s philosoph!. The authors do so b! bothdirectl! interrogating Kierkegaard(s texts$ in order to draw out his ofteni"plicit politics$ b! engaging with his critics and putting his thought indialogue with other philosophical positions and traditions$ as well as usingKierkegaard in order to interpret and respond to conte"porar! issues. The political Kierkegaard that e"erges fro" such a new approach to the&uestion is a paradoxical figure that stands in the tension betweenrestoration and radical criti&ue. On the one hand$ the Danish philosopherwas a self,proclai"ed conser ati e and his understanding of religion$ based on an as!""etric relation to a silent *od$ carries potentiall!regressi e conse&uences. On the other hand$ Kierkegaard(s relational andradicall! contingent notion of the self represents an ob-ection to thedo"inant liberal account of sub-ecti it!$ as well as a resource for anunderstanding of the sub-ect which is aware of sexual difference.%oreo er$ his anal!ses of the ills of earl! capitalist societ! anticipatei"portant aspects of 13th centur! social criticis". / en "ore radicall!$ inhis notion of agapeic lo e$ understood as a task$ there lies the possibilit! ofthe rise of a trul! collecti e sub-ect$ be!ond the li"itations of theautono"ous self.

5et$ writing about Kierkegaard and the political is b! no "eans astraightforward "atter# the Kierkegaardian oeu re6both the pseudon!"ous texts and the religious discourses6offers little directtextual reference upon which to elaborate a Kierkegaardian 7theor!8 of the political. )or this reason$ an! in&uir! concerning the political cannot

4. 9n exception to this are %ark Doole!(s 1334The Politics of Exodus: Sren Kierkegaards Ethics of Responsibility $ New 5ork# )ordha" Uni ersit! :ress and9lison 9ssiter(s 133; Kierkegaard, etaphysics and Political Theory: !nfinishedSel"es $


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Kierkegaard and the :olitical ?

si"pl! rel! on a s!ste"atic approach to Kierkegaard(s work$ but insteadneeds to organise itself around a specific text or cluster of texts. The "ostrele ant textual reference for an in estigation of the political is theanon!"ousl! published T'o (ges: ( )iterary Re"ie' $ where Kierkegaard$anal!sing the fictitious characters of a no el$ outlines a criti&ue of his ti"ethrough a confrontation with the i""ediatel! preceding age. It is not b!accident that this is such a topical reference for a political reading ofKierkegaard$ insofar as it can be read as an earl! essa! in culture criti&ueand a thoroughgoing and transparent exa"ination of "odernit! at its er!outset. Kierkegaard anal!ses the "utations that take place in the publicspace and the increasing influence of new social agents$ such as the "edia.%ost i"portantl!$ he denounces the i"personal character of the force thattakes hold of public life6which he calls 7le elling86and its fatefulconse&uences$ first and fore"ost the reduction of an! social or intellectualinteraction to a &uantitati e law and its increasing irrationalit!. uch ananal!sis is particularl! insightful insofar as the exa"ined pheno"ena donot onl! concern the public space of the cit! of Copenhagen$ but can also be inscribed into a larger trend that interests nineteenth centur! /uropeand go so far as to touch conte"porar! globalised "edia,do"inatedculture.

T'o (ges: ( )iterary Re"ie' is thus a pi otal text for a politicalreading of @ren Kierkegaard$ !et the pseudon!"ous writings and thesigned religious works$ as well as the notes collected in the papers anddiaries$ are replete with interesting "aterial for such a reading. Theauthors( textual selection$ howe er$ has the "erit of a oiding the "ostco""onl! addressed Kierkegaardian texts$ those which "ost ob iousl!engage with ethical or political the"es$ pri ileging instead the writingswhich address the topic in a "ore subtle$ indirect$ or e en contro ersial"anner. )or exa"ple$ writings such as the second part of Either*+r andthe $oncluding !nscientific Postscript are not central to the presentdiscussion despite the fact that the! engage with what traditionall! "a!appear as one of the "ost ob ious political the"es$ that is$ the &uestion ofself,choice and passionate decision. In addition$ ear and Tre%bling $another topical text for the political$ is not tackled directl!$ e en if it is present in the background of "an! of the contributions.

9 good deal of attention is paid instead to the aesthetic writings$ insofaras the! outline ele"ents of culture criticis" and "odernit! criti&ue.:articularl! i"portant here is the essa! on 7The Tragic in 9ncient Dra"a


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A Introduction

Reflected in the Tragic in %odern Dra"a$8 where the salient features of"odernit!6indi idual isolation$ the disintegration of co""unities andinstitutions6are exa"ined against the backdrop of anti&uit!.TheSeducers #iary $ on the other hand$ is exa"ined insofar as it sheds light onKierkegaard(s notion of the fe"inine$ and on the e"ancipator! notion ofrelationalit! which is attached to it. 9n in,depth exa"ination is si"ilarl!reser ed forThe $oncept of (nxiety $ where the anxiet! of freedo" that&ualifies self,positing is used to exe"plif! a socio,political situationwhere no ob-ecti e truths are gi en$ and instead the sub-ect is called toengage in the creation of a truth in beco"ing.

The religious production6in particular the pseudon!"ous texts6arealso interrogated$ bearing in "ind the &uestion of whether Kierkegaard(sunco"pro"ising and irreducibl! singular ideal of faith a oids lapsing intofanaticis" and funda"entalis". On the other hand$ the otherworldl! faithof the religious pseudon!"s can also be seen as the strongest ob-ectionand opposition6a wa! towards a different t!pe of politics6to thealienating logic that do"inates social life. 9 si"ilar t!pe of answer is alsoworked out with the help of the signed religious writings$ in particular the-orks of )o"e $ where the notion of lo e for one(s neighbour6as care forthe stranger$ and e en for the abuser6lies at the core of newuncon entional for"s of political praxis.

Da id 'ood(s article centres on the &uestion around the "eaning of being religious toda! and its relation to politics. 'ood identifies theregressi e and reactionar! tendenc! of religion$ but also its potentialsource of resistance. In particular$ Kierkegaard(s as!""etrical and non,dialogical conception of the relationship with the di ine can be seen asreinforcing aspects of the bad realit! such as patriarch!. +owe er$ 'oodsuggests that fro" a see"ingl! conser ati e position$ Kierkegaard(sapproach to the religious can pro ide tools to outline a "ore progressi enotion of the self as well as ontological$ "etaph!sical and ethicalresources for the political. 'ood identifies se eral wa!s in whichKierkegaard(s philosoph! can help us to o erco"e the do"inating notionof liberal sub-ecti it! b! outlining a new kind of relationalit! that rein estsi""anence with transcendence.

B! exa"ining the T'o (ges $ Christine Battersb! asks how the

indi idual can counter the le elling of the crowd in such a wa! that "akesan i"pact on the political. he co"es to the conclusion that the notion ofthe indi idual is an anti,political categor! which does not constitute a


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challenge to the social order. It is in the aesthetic writings that Battersb!finds "ore resources for the political$ specificall! in the account of thefe"ale self as a relational self which is entangled in relations ofdependenc! and une&ual power structures. Battersb! suggests that$ startingfro" a si"ilar account of the self$ it would be possible with Iris %arion5oung to outline a political theor! that is aware of relations of oppressionand do"ination and can differentiate degrees of responsibilit!.Kierkegaard(s contribution to political theor! howe er re"ains li"ited$insofar as he does not furnish us with an! "odel of resistance or criteria todistinguish abusi e and non,abusi e for"s of power.

9lison 9ssiter responds to iEek(s reading of )oucault(s interpretationof the Iranian re olution as well as to iEek(s critical reading ofKierkegaard(s lo e of one(s neighbour. he argues that Kierkegaard(snotion of neighbourl! lo e offers a notion of subli"it! si"ilar to thatfound b! )oucault in the Iranian re olution$ and an idea of freedo" thato erco"es deter"inis"$ thus outlining a 7uni ersal8 sub-ect and la!ing bare the li"itations and delusion of the autono"ous self. uch a sub-ect isable to o erco"e the anxiet! which is generated b! the bankruptc! of thegoals of the people as a collecti e. 9ssiter "aintains that the incredibl!difficult task of agapeic lo e founds a relationship akin to the subli"e$ andallows us to act as part of the whole hu"anit!$ trul! as a collecti e sub-ect.

Tho"as 'olstenhol"e exa"ines Kierkegaard(s definition of his ti"e asan aesthetic age inT'o (ges: ( )iterary Re"ie' and in&uires into thecorrespondence between the socio,political structure of a ti"e and the pre ailing existential wa! of life. 'hile such correspondence is not to beunderstood deter"inisticall!$ 'olstenhol"e argues that specific socio, political arrange"ents fa our a certain t!pe of existential co"port"ento er another. This brings us be!ond a "erel! sub-ecti istic perspecti eand links the indi idual existential endea ours to the whole of societ!.9ccording to 'olstenhol"e$ a task for politics is to exa"ine whether the politics that it tries to i"ple"ent fa ours or ha"pers the existentialde elop"ent of the sub-ect.

%argherita Tonon(s article considers Kierkegaard(s account ofindi idual suffering in "odern societ! in the light of 9xel +onneth(s+egelian characterisations of such a "alaise. Tonon addresses the "erits

and li"itations of +egel(s proposed cure and identifies Kierkegaard(sre-ection of such a cure in his refusal to recognise an underl!ing rationalstructure that per"eates realit!. )ollowing


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G Introduction

interpretation$ Tonon suggests that categories such as alienation andreification are "ore apt to capture the coercion and irrationalit!experienced b! the Kierkegaardian indi idualit! in "odern societ!. InTonon(s reading$ Kierkegaard(s turn towards inwardness$ howe er$ lea esthe contradictions of "odernit! unchallenged and$ in doing so$ e en callsinto &uestion the possibilit! of the sal ation of the indi idual self.

%ichael O(Neill Burns$ b! assessing la o- iEek(s interpretation ofKierkegaard$ argues that Kierkegaard(s political potential lies in hisontological pro-ect "ore than in his ethical or anthropologicalconsiderations. The leap of faith la!s bare the ontologicall! inconsistentand fractured nature of realilt!. This sheds new light on the "uchcriticised turn towards inwardness$ which is instead understood as a preparator! "o"ent for e er! political action. Burns sub"its thatKierkegaard(s i"plicit ontolog! of contingenc!6centered upon thatradical interruption which is the leap6creates the conditions forrigorousl! thinking through the possibilit! of socio,political no elt! andinter ention.

O erall$ therefore$ the book sets out to challenge the assu"ption thatthere are few resources in Kiekegaard for an anal!sis of the political. Italso raises serious doubts about the clai" that Kierkegaard focuses on theindi idual at the expense of the co""unit! or the whole. 'hilst thecollection does not produce a single perspecti e on Kierkegaard and the political$ it pro ides resources that "ight indeed challenge the do"inantliberal "odel in political philosoph!$ of the sub-ect as an abstract andautono"ous rational self.


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CHAPTER O NE

THE SINGULAR U NIVERSAL: O NE MORE TIME

DAVID WOOD

Kierkegaard may be a e!!e "ia##y re#igi$%! "&i ker b%" '&a" d$e! i"mea "$ be a re#igi$%! "&i ker "$day( D$e! i" mark a de"a)&me " *r$m "&e +$#i"i)a# $r "ake $ e "$ i"! ,ery &ear"(

My ear#ie!" +&i#$!$+&i)a# &er$ a! a % dergrad%a"e a" Kee#e 'a!A "&$ y -#e'. a &ard/bi""e a"&ei!" '&$!e reg%#ar +%b#i) deba"e! 'i"& a)am+%! C&ri!"ia !)ie "i!" 'ere "&e !"%** $* #ege d0 S$ $* a Me"&$di!"mi i!"er. &e "%r ed a"&ei!" a" 120 I )ame "$ a!!$)ia"e a"&ei!m 'i"&i "e##e)"%a# *reed$m a d e #ig&"e me "0 N$" #$ g ag$. &e !&$)ked me b"%r i g dei!" a" "&e age $* 31. a*"er a))e+"i g a ,er!i$ $* "&e arg%me "*r$m i "e##ige " de!ig01 M$re "$ "&e +$i ". 'i"&i "&e )$ "i e "a# "radi"i$ .Le,i a! &a! $+era"ed a! "&e "&i e d $* a 'edge "&a" &a! $+e ed %+ '&a"&a! a#m$!" be)$me a i d%!"ry $* +$!"m$der "&e$#$gy. 'i"& ame! #ikeMari$ . Na )y. Va""im$. Agambe . Derrida. a d i "&e US. Ca+%"$. Ke##era d Kear ey a## !"r$ g#y )&am+i$ i g a e' re!+e)"abi#i"y "$ a )er"ai"&i ki g ab$%" G$d. $r a" #ea!" 4G$d.5 $r "&e di,i e0 T&i! "$$ 'a! a !&$)k"$ $ e "a%g&" by de)$ !"r%)"i$ "$ )$ e)" "&e ,ery idea $* G$d 'i"& ame"a+&y!i)a# 'i##/$6/"&e/'i!+. a 4"ra !)e de "a# !ig i*ied50 U #ike -#e'.&$'e,er. "&i! di!)$%r!e. $*"e dra'i g $ a Ca"&$#i) &eri"age. '&i#e"y+i)a##y e!)&e'i g a +er!$ a# G$d. % der!"a d! "&e re#igi$%! i '&a" 'emig&" br$ad#y )a## a e"&i)a#. ra"&er "&a a !%b!"a "i,e !e !e0 A" "&e !am"ime. 'e &a,e bee 'i" e!! "$ a e7"ra$rdi ary ri!e i "&e % a!&amed +$#i"i)i!a"i$ $* re#igi$%! be#ie*0 8i9ek i ,er"! D$!"$ye,!ky6! )a%"i$ by!ayi g "&a" 4I* "&ere i! a G$d. "&e a y"&i g i! +ermi""ed5 e!+e)ia##y b#$'i g %+ i $)e " by!"a der!; 8i9ek e'i!& "erri"$ria# )#aim! "$>er%!a#em. a d "$ "&e m%rder $* ab$r"i$ d$)"$r!0 W&a" Kierkegaardd%bbed C&ri!"e d$m &a! $*"e bee a" "&e *$re*r$ " $* i "$#era )e0 T&Ca"&$#i) )&%r)& &a! bee !&$' "$ be dee+#y )$m+#i)i" i +ermi!!i,ea""i"%de! "$ )&i#d/m$#e!"a"i$ . "&e Ameri)a E+i!)$+a# C&%r)& &a! re*%!e


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3 C&a+"er O e

"$ re)$g i!e gay +rie!"!. a d C&ri!"ia e,a ge#i)a#! &a,e "ake "&e #ead ire!i!"a )e "$ a)k $'#edgi g a "&r$+$ge i) )#ima"e )&a ge. $r i deed)#ima"e )&a ge a! !%)&. $" "$ me "i$ e,$#%"i$ 0 W$me &a,e b$r e "&e br% " $* re#igi$%! d$gma"i!m0 Ameri)a C&ri!"ia )&%r)&e! &a,e "ake "&e#ead i re!i!"i g "&e a,ai#abi#i"y $* ab$r"i$ a d )$ "ra)e+"i$ e!+e)ia##y i +ar"! $* "&e '$r#d '&ere bir"& )$ "r$# i! a ,i"a# eed0 I" i! i )rea!i g#y"&$%g&" +er*e)"#y #egi"ima"e *$r "&e!e re#igi$%! +re*ere )e! "$ i *$rm $ ?%!" d$me!"i) +%b#i) +$#i)y. b%" a#!$ *$reig aid "$ "&$!e 'i"& @%i"edi**ere " re#igi$%! ,ie'!0 A d i "&e U i"ed S"a"e!. 'i"& *e' e7)e+"i$ !

%aker!. U i,er!a#i!" U i"aria C&%r)&;. )&%r)&e! &a,e re!i!"ed "&e$rdi a"i$ $* '$me i "$ "&e )#ergy. a d !$me #ike "&e S$%"&er Ba+"i!"!;&a,e e,e re,er!ed "&eir ear#ier 'i##i g e!! "$ $rdai '$me


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T&e Si g%#ar U i,er!a#: O e M$re Time Da,id W$$d

im+$r"a )e $* re#igi$ "$ &im. i" '$%#d be !$me"&i g $* a !)&$#a!"i) +r$?e)" i* re#igi$ &ad *aded i "$ i !ig i*i)a )e a! Da'ki ! a d De e""mig&" 'i!&02 B%" i* a y"&i g "&e re#igi$%! !"r%gg#e! $* 1 "& )e "%ryDe mark make Kierkegaard6! )$ "rib%"i$ ! "$ re#igi$%! "&i ki g. a d&e )e "$ "&e +$#i"i)a#. e!+e)ia##y !ig i*i)a " "$ $%r $' Pre!e " Age

Kierkegaard 1 Feg!"r%+ 1 2;. C&ri!"i e Ba""er!by

1 ;. A#i!$ A!!i"er


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1= C&a+"er O e

4re)#aim! "&e *emi i e50 Her $' !%gge!"i$ i! "&a" i" may be &i! ae!"&e"i)'$rk! "&a" are m$re %!e*%# "&a &i! e"&i)a# $r re#igi$%! '$rk!0 T&e!e'$rk!:

+r$,ide %! 'i"& re!$%r)e! *$r re"&i ki g "&e !e#* i 'ay! "&a" +ri,i#egea"a#i"y. re#a"i$ a#i"y. $ "$#$gi)a# de+e de )y a d e+i!"em$#$gi)a#

% )er"ai "y J&i! 'ri"i g! )a &e#+ %! re)$ !"r%)" ide "i"y i 'ay! "&a""ake "&e *ema#e !%b?e)"/+$!i"i$ a! "&e $rm0 ibid0. 1 2;

I ma y 'ay!. i" mig&" be !aid. Kierkegaard6! +$!i"i$ &ere mirr$r!"&a" $* Nie" !)&e: a !eemi g mi!$gy i!". '&$ $ e"&e#e!! !%++#ie! "&e"$$#! *$r a br$ader de)$ !"r%)"i$ $* "&e *$% da"i$ ! $* me"a+&y!i)a#. i0e +a"riar)&a# !e#*&$$d0 Nie" !)&e6! m$!" )%""i g remark!. di!+aragi g'$me 6! )a+a)i"y *$r *rie d!&i+. are immedia"e#y "%r ed agai !" me "$$0A d Germa *emi i!" gr$%+! a" "&e "ime are !aid "$ &a,e *$% d i Nie" !)&e a +$'er*%# a##y0 B$"& Kierkegaard a d Nie" !)&e rai!e "&e*a!)i a"i g @%e!"i$ $* @%i"e &$' "$ !ee "&e re#a"i$ be"'ee . #e" %! !ay."&e ema )i+a"i$ $* '$me . a d !%))e!! $ a br$ader *r$ "0 S%+er*i)ia##y.a" #ea!". i" #$$k! a! i* "&ey 'ere ab#e "$ "&i k *%r"&er "&a "&ey 'ere ab#e "$a)" "&a" a! me "&ey 'ere !"%)k i "&e )$mm$ di!+$!i"i$ ! $* "&eir "ime. +er&a+! *$r +e)%#iar +er!$ a# *ami#y rea!$ !0 Ba""er!by !%gge!"! "&aKierkegaard mig&" &a,e bee ab%!ed Nie" !)&e 'a! br$%g&" %+ by'$me 'i"& $ *a"&er *ig%re ar$% d0;3 T&i! rai!e! "&e @%e!"i$ $* '&e"&er*emi i!" +&i#$!$+&y i! *i di g a +$"e " +a"& $* a))e!! "$ a br$ader +&i#$!$+&i)a# !%mmi" #e" %! !ay "&e de)$ !"r%)"i$ $* "&e me"a+&y!i)a!e#* $r !%b?e)". "&e gr$% d! *$r '&i)& mig&" be $"&er $r dee+er "&a +a"riar)&y. b%" "&e !"r%)"%re $* '&i)& i! 'ri" #arge "&ere0 T&i! '$%#d be $ e'ay $* readi g Irigaray6! )#aim 1 F; "&a" !e7%a# di**ere )e )$%#d be "&ede*i i g i!!%e $* $%r "ime $ e "&a" ,i,id#y e7&ibi"! a br$ader +a""er $*d$mi a"i$ a d e7+#$i"a"i$ *$% d i ra)e. )#a!! a d i "er a"i$ a#re#a"i$ !0 T&e $"&er 'ay '$%#d be "&a" +a"riar)&y. "&e !%b$rdi a"i$ $*'$me . i! *% dame "a#. a d "&a". a! bri##ia " ab!"ra)" "&i ker!. b$"&Kierkegaard a d Nie" !)&e 'ere $ #y ab#e "$ *%mb#e a" "&e b%""$ ! $**emi i!m6! b#$%!e. )$mi g a'ay 'i"& a g$$d r$ad ma+. b%" $" rea##yk $'i g '&a" )$% "ry "&ey 'ere i 0

O "&e br$ader *r$ " b$"& E#!ebe" >eg!"r%+ a d A#i!$ A!!i"er "ake %+"&e "&$%g&" "&a" $ e 'ay $r a $"&er Kierkegaard $**er! a 'ay $* di!+#a)i g"&e !e !e $* !e#* im+#ied by "&e #ibera# i di,id%a#i!m $* !$me$ e #ike


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T&e Si g%#ar U i,er!a#: O e M$re Time 11Da,id W$$d

Ra'#!0 A#"&$%g& "&e!e )a"eg$rie! may $" !%r,i,e +r$#$ ged !)r%"i y."&e!e arg%me "! a## i e**e)" *i d i Kierkegaardontological ormetaphysical re!$%r)e!. @%i"e a! m%)& a! e"&i)a# $ e!. 'i"& '&i)& "$rei !)ribe "&e +$#i"i)a#0

T&e 'ider +$!"m$der re!+$ !e "$ Kierkegaard !ee Aga)i !ki


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1< C&a+"er O e

1 3 a;. re'ri"e! Hege#6! ma!"er !#a,e re#a"i$ i a 'ay "&a" re"%r ! a)er"ai age )y "$ "&e !%++$!ed ,i)"im0 S&e 'ri"e!:

A "ig$ e be)$me! a m$der ; da%g&"er $* Oedi+%! '&$ i! ei"&er "&e *%##yre!+$ !ib#e. Ka "ia ma#e; +er!$ $* m$der i"y. $r !im+#y a "$ke $* "&e*ami#y "$ be +% i!&ed by +re/m$der ; *a"e0

I am $" e "ire#y !%re &$' *ar a## $* "&i! de!"abi#i!e! Hege#6! a))$% " $*

"&e ?$%r ey $* S+iri" "$'ard! "&e Ab!$#%"e0 Hi! ma!"er !#a,e re#a"i$ 'a!i"!e#* % !"ab#e "&e !#a,e &ad )er"ai % a "i)i+a"ed ad,a "age! $,er "&ema!"er. $" #ea!" bei g )#$!er "$ a"%re0 A d Mar7 br$%g&" $%" "&e!ei !"abi#i"ie! i $ % )er"ai 'ay0 Did Kierkegaard +er&a+! &a,e "$$edi+a##y idea#i!e a d "&e ki## &i! Hege#ia *a"&er "$ e**e)" a break *r$m&im( Mig&" "&ere $" be a +er*$rma"i,e re+e"i"i$ $* &ierar)&i)a#re#a"i$ a#i"y i "&e ,ery a""em+" "$ break 'i"& i"( We mig&" +er&a+! deri,ea ge era# *$rm%#a *r$m "&i! #e!!$ "&a" '$%#d begi "$ e7+#ai "&e +arad$7e! $* Kierkegaard6! +$"e "ia# )$ "rib%"i$ "$ "&e +$#i"i)a#. i a

)er"ai re!$ a )e 'i"& Derrida6! ear#y remark "&a" 'e d$ $" e)e!!ari#ye!)a+e *r$m "&e me"a+&y!i)a# !"r%)"%re! 'e )a e7+$!e0 B%" "$ "&e e7"e ""&a" 'e mai "ai $%r !e !e $* "&e di!"i )"i,e im+$r"a )e $* re#igi$%!di!)$%r!e "$day. 'e are !"i## #e*" 'i"& "&e @%e!"i$ $* '&e"&er 'e eed "$de,e#$+ a $"&er a++r$a)& "$ "&e re#igi$%! "&r$%g& Kierkegaard6! ae!"&e"i"e7"!. $r '&e"&er &i! di!)%!!i$ ! $* e"&i)! a d re#igi$ )a dire)"#y *eedi "$ a e' +$#i"i)!0 S%re#y $" i* "&e re#a"i$ "$ G$d i! e!!e "ia##y ,er"i)a#.a!ymme"ri)a#. a d g$,er ed by a%"&$ri"y0

I The Sickness Unto Death . Kierkegaard arg%e! "&a" "&e *a)" "&a" "&ere

are "'$ *$rm! $* de!+air. de!+air a" 'i##i g "$ be $ e!e#*. b%" a#!$de!+airi g#y 'i##i g "$ be $ e!e#*. +r$,e! "&a" 'e )a $" be )$m+#e"e#y!e#*/)$ !"i"%"ed0 O #y a bei g )$ !"i"%"ed by a $"&er P$'er )$%#d )$ "i %ei de!+air k $'i g. a! i" 'ere. "&a" &e 'a! $" a#$ e. "&a" "&ere 'a! a$%"!ide i ,e!"$r 'i"& a i "ere!" i "&e +r$?e)"0 -$r Kierkegaard *ai"& i"&i! P$'er i! i deed a ma""er $* *ear a d "remb#i g. $* $bedie )e 'i"&$%"ra"i$ a# gr$% d!0 B%" d$e! "&i! rea##y !%++#y "&e ba!i! *$r a e' +$#i"i)!( I"i! )$mm$ . a! 'e &a,e !ee . "$ )$ "ra!" Ka " a d Kierkegaard '&e i")$me! "$ "&e !e#*. 'i"& Ka " bei g a""rib%"ed a !e#*/)$ "ai ed !e#* "ai#$red

"$ #ibera#i!m0 Ka "6! re!+$ !e "$ Abra&am6! !i"%a"i$ 'a! "&a" &e !&$%#d&a,e @%e!"i$ ed '&e"&er i" 'a! rea##y G$d !+eaki g '&e &e 'a! "$#d "$!a)ri*i)e I!aa)0


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I* G$d !&$%#d rea##y !+eak "$ ma . ma )$%#d !"i## e,er k $' "&a" i" 'a!G$d !+eaki g0 I" i! @%i"e im+$!!ib#e *$r ma "$ a++re&e d "&e i *i i"e by&i! !e !e!. di!"i g%i!& i" *r$m !e !ib#e bei g!. a d re)$g i e i" a! !%)&0 B%"i !$me )a!e! ma )a be !%re "&e ,$i)e &e &ear! i! $" G$d6!0 -$r i* "&e,$i)e )$mma d! &im "$ d$ !$me"&i g )$ "rary "$ m$ra# #a'. "&e $ma""er &$' ma?e!"i) "&e a++ari"i$ may be. a d $ ma""er &$' i" may !eem"$ !%r+a!! "&e '&$#e $* a"%re. &e m%!" )$ !ider i" a i##%!i$ 0 Ka " 1


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1 C&a+"er O e

d$e! !%)& a a))$% " addre!! "&e +$#i"i)a# +r$b#em $* a ger. re!e "me ".i "$#era )e a d ,i$#e )e( Or d$e! i". $ "&e )$ "rary. !er,e "$ #egi"ima"e"&e!e a""i"%de!( I! 6" a G$d '&$ )a )$mma d dea"& ?%!" "&e ki d $* G$d*r$m '&$m 'e mig&" +ray "$ be !a,ed( I! "&ere. "$ re+ea". $" a rea#!"r%gg#e be"'ee "&e ki d $* G$d 'e )a )$ !"r%)" "&r$%g& Kierkegaard6!ae!"&e"i) 'ri"i g!. a d "&e G$d $* &i! re#igi$%! 'ri"i g!(

-$r Kierkegaard. a 7ie"y &a! i"! +r$+er +#a)e a" "&e i !"a " $* "&e"e#e$#$gi)a# !%!+e !i$ $* "&e e"&i)a#0 A#$ g 'i"& Kea"!. '&e &e 'r$"e $*

ega"i,e )a+abi#i"y. Kierkegaard % der!"a d! '&a" re#igi$ i! e!!e "ia##yab$%". i 'ard e!!. a! "&e abi#i"y "$ #i,e 'i"& "&e a 7ie"y "&a" g$i g bey$ d"&e e"&i)a# e "ai#!0 A! "&e *$)%! $* +$#i"i)a# )$ )er . "&i! i! !%re#y m$me "$%! di!)$,ery. $r a" #ea!" remi der.1= $ Kierkegaard6! +ar"0 -$r*ear a d a 7ie"y i )rea!i g#y !eem "$ be "&e m$!" +$'er*%##y ma i+%#ab#ea**e)"!011 W&e"&er $r $" 'e "ie "&i! ba)k "$ -re%d a d i *a "i#e&e#+#e!! e!!. i" '$%#d !eem "&a" re#igi$!i"y i ge era#. a d i !"i"%"i$ a#i!edre#igi$ i +ar"i)%#ar. )a $" b%" "rade i *ear a d a 7ie"y. a d "&eirred%)"i$ a d $r ma ageme "0 W&e"&er i" be *% dame "a# e7i!"e "iaa 7ie"y W&$ am I( W&a" i! "&e mea i g $* #i*e( W&a" 'i## &a++e "$ me'&e I die(; $r m$re )$ )re"e H$' 'i## I *eed my )&i#dre ( H$' 'i## 'ee!)a+e "&e e emy( H$' )a I dea# 'i"& a i )%rab#e i## e!!(;. 'e !eekrea!!%ra )e! ab$%" ma y im+$ derab#e!. !$me $* '&i)& '$%#d +ara#y!e %!i* 'e )$%#d $" a !'er "&em. a" #ea!" *$rma##y0 Re#igi$ )$%#d be !aid "$mee" "&e!e eed!0 B%" i" d$e! !$ &a d/i /&a d 'i"& !$)ia# +$#i)y a d +$#i"i)a# ide$#$gy0 I" i! !ym+"$ma"i) "&a" "&e US )$mbi e! 'ide!+readre#igi$%! *er,$%r 'i"& "&e ab!e )e $* a +r$+er &ea#"&)are !y!"em0 D$e!re#igi$%! *ai"& "ake %+ "&e !#a)k i &ea#"&)are +r$,i!i$ ( Hy!"eri)a#

a"i$ a# !e)%ri"y mea!%re! !eem "$ be a""em+"i g "$ re+air a br$ke !e !e$* ab!$#%"e !e)%ri"y be*$re 11; "&a" re#igi$%! *ai"& &a! a))%!"$meAmeri)a ! "$ e7+e)"0 A d +$#i"i)ia ! $" $ #y +a der "$ "&e!e ab!$#%"e!. b%" *a "&e *#ame! $* *ear "$ +re+are "&e gr$% d *$r +r$mi!e! $* +r$"e)"i$T&e r$#e +#ayed by re#igi$ &ere i! &igy )$m+#e70 I!#am i! di!"$r"ed i "$a gr$% d *$r "err$ri!m ki##i g "&e i *ide#;0 I" i! a#!$ )$ !"r%)"ed a! "&e emy by a &y!"eri)a# C&ri!"ia i"y0 I ea)& )a!e G$d *% )"i$ ! "$ )$ "ai .!&a+e a d dire)" a 7ie"y "&r$%g& *ai"&. $bedie )e. a d d$gma"i!m. e,e i"&e m$!" de!"r%)"i,e 'ay!0 A! Nie" !)&e 1 3. 113; $b!er,e!: 4ma

'$%#d m%)& ra"&er 'i##nothingness "&a not 'i##0005I" i! "em+"i g "$ !ay "&a" '&e e,er 'e )$me %+ 'i"& "&i! !$r" $*"r$%b#i g )$ )#%!i$ "&a" Kierkegaard i! "$ be *$% d $ "&e !ide $* "&e


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a ge#!. !$ "$ !+eak. be)a%!e i" i! +re)i!e#y '&a" i! a" !"ake i &i! )ri"i@%e $*C&ri!"e d$m0 E,ery"&i g 'e '$rry ab$%" &a! "$ d$ +re)i!e#y 'i"& "&ee7"er a#i"ie! $* re#igi$ . $" "&e i 'ard e!! $* *ai"&0 I! "&i! "r%e(

I &i! #a!" year!. a! i! 'e## k $' . Kierkegaard m$% "ed a a""a)k $"&e e!"ab#i!&ed Da i!& C&%r)&0 B%" &e a#!$ a""a)ked a""em+"! a" i"! re*$ by +e$+#e #ike Gr% d",ig a d R%de#ba)&. '&$. a! i" &a! bee +%".em+&a!i!ed a m$re ?$y*%#. )e#ebra"$ry a d )$mm% a# C&ri!"ia i"y0

T&ere i! $"&i g ab$%" '&i)& I &a,e grea"er mi!gi,i g! "&a a## "&a" e,e!#ig&"#y "a!"e! $* "&i! di!a!"r$%! )$ *%!i$ $* +$#i"i)! a d C&ri!"ia i"y. a)$ *%!i$ '&i)& )a ,ery ea!i#y bri g ab$%" a e' ki d a d m$de $*C&%r)&/re*$rma"i$ . a re,er!e re*$rma"i$ '&i)& i "&e ame $*re*$rma"i$ +%"! !$me"&i g e' a d '$r!e i +#a)e $* !$me"&i g $#d a d be""er C&ri!"ia i"y i! i 'ard e!!. i 'ard dee+e i g0 I* a" a gi,e "ime"&e *$rm! % der '&i)& $ e &a! "$ #i,e are $" "&e m$!" +er*e)". i* "&ey )a be im+r$,ed. i G$d ! ame d$ !$0 B%" e!!e "ia##y C&ri!"ia i"y i!i 'ard e!!0 Kierkegaard 1 3


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1F C&a+"er O e

a d !$)ia# $r &i!"$ri)a# )ir)%m!"a )e! i '&i)& )er"ai arg%ab#y im+$r"a "dime !i$ ! $r +$!!ibi#i"ie! $* !e#*/rea#i!a"i$ . $r $* )$##e)"i,e !y ergy. are

$" ade@%a"e#y rea#i!ed0 T&a" &a! "$ be rig&"0 W&a" d$e! $" *$##$'. $" ya y'ay. i! "&a" "&e!e dime !i$ ! eed be i "ri !i)a##y )$ e)"ed "$ a G$dre#a"i$ !&i+0 T&e &i!"$ri)a# !+e)i*i)i"y a d )$ "i ge )y $* +a"riar)&y. *$re7am+#e. mig&" be !$me"&i g "$ '&i)& a 'ide ra ge $* !$)ia#arra geme "!. $ e! "&a" "$$k i" *$r gra "ed. mig&" *ai# "$ a#er" me0 B%!$me *$rm! $* G$d re#a"i$ !&i+ '$%#d mere#y re+ea" "&a" re#a"i$ ra"&er"&a @%e!"i$ i"0 A d $ e )a !%re#y imagi e *$rm! $* )$mm% i)a"i,ee gageme " "&a" '$%#d '$rk "$ !%b,er" a d di!+#a)e i" "&a" '$%#d $"re@%ire a" #ea!" Kierkegaard6! ,er!i$ $* "&e G$d re#a"i$ !&i+0 O e 'ay $*"&i ki g $*this '$%#d be "$ imagi e 'ay! $* !%!+e di g "&e e"&i)a# "&a"d$ $" m$,e i "$ "&e re#igi$%! @%i"e a! Kierkegaard % der!"a d! i"0

T$ e7+#$re "&i! +$!!ibi#i"y. I 'i## $' )$ !ider *$%r a#"er a"i,e 'ay! $*% der!"a di g "&e re#igi$%! ea)& $* '&i)& )a i !$me 'ay be gra*"ed $ "$Kierkegaard6! $' +$!i"i$ . b%" $ e $* '&i)& re+#i)a"e! "&e &ierar)&i)a#G$d re#a"i$ &e !eem! "$ "ake *$r gra "ed0 I" 'i## be my )#aim "&a" i" i! by!%)& mea ! "&a" 'e )a addre!! "&e )$ "em+$rary +$#i"i)a# +$'er $*re#igi$ a d I am !+eaki g a! 'a! Kierkegaard; #arge#y $* C&ri!"ia i"ya d "&e We!" 'i"&$%" e d$r!i g i"! regre!!i,e "e de )ie!0 >%!" "$ be )#ear.i" i! my g%idi g a!!%m+"i$ "&a" "&ere may be a ,ery &ig& +ri)e "$ +ay *$rre*%!i g "$ e gage 'i"& a di!)$%r!e "&a" &a! a !"r$ g +%b#i) +re!e )e

ame#y "&a" $ e #ea,e! "&e de"ermi a"i$ $* i"! *%"%re !&a+e a d dire)"i$"$ *$r)e! $,er '&i)& $ e &a! $ )$ "r$#0 I "&a" )$ "e7". I )#aim. i" may be be""er "$ '$rk $%" &$' )rea"i,e#y "$ de+#$y "&e '$rd 4G$d.5 "&a "$aba d$ i" a#"$ge"&er "$ a d$gma"i) *ai"& )$mm% i"y0

T$ +%r!%e "&i! $b?e)"i,e. I 'a " $' "$ #$$k a" *$%r "&i ker! ea)& $*'&$m $**er %! a 'ay $* m$,i g *$r'ard i "&i ki g ab$%" "&e re#e,a )e $*Kierkegaard6! "&e$#$gy "$ +$#i"i)!: Sar"re. Derrida. Kear ey a d Irigaray0

10 Sar"re6! 1 F e!!ay 4T&e Si g%#ar U i,er!a#51< 'a! +ar" $* aUNESCO )$ *ere )e $ Kierkegaard #ivant 01 T&e ba!i) +r$b#em &e dea#!'i"& i! &$' Kierkegaard )a #i,e $ *$r %! '&e &i! '&$#e me!!age 'a!"$ )$ "e!" "&e !ig i*i)a )e $* "&e ki d $* k $'#edge. $r +$!i"i,e )$ "e " $*a #i*e. "&a" mig&" be "&$%g&" "$ !%r,i,e dea"&0 Sar"re !&$'! &$'e,er "&a" i"

i! Kierkegaard6! e7i!"e "ia# a++r$+ria"i$ $* &i! &i!"$ri)a# )$ "i ge )y. &i! +er*$rma )e $* &i! $' !i g%#ari"y. "&a" #i*"! &im $%" $* &i!"$ry. &i!Si g%#ar U i,er!a#i"y0 A d i a 'ay "&a" a "i)i+a"e! Derrida6! !e !i"i,i"y "$


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"&e +r$b#em $* a )$ !%mi g "$"a#i!a"i$ $* "&e $"&er i &i! Mem$ir! TheWork of $ourning . Sar"re &$ $%r! Kierkegaard6! re#igi$!i"y a! $+e i g "&e'ay *$r Sar"re6! $' be)$mi g/a /a"&ei!"0 He *i d! )a"eg$rie! by '&i)& "$)$ e)" Kierkegaard6! 'i" e!!i g "$ a !i g%#ar #i*e 'i"& &i! $' . 'i"&$%"a++r$+ria"i g $ e "$ "&e $"&er0 T&edeep a"&ei!m i Sar"re6! "&$%g&" &a! "$d$ 'i"& "&e 'ay! i '&i)& imma e )e a++ear! *$#ded ba)k $ "$ "&e '$r#dra"&er "&a a! a "ra !)e de )e !e" agai !" "&e '$r#d: "&e i *i i"e ari!e! i"&e *i i"e. "&e ab!$#%"e i "&e )$ "i ge "0 Beari g 'i" e!! "$ my)$ "i ge )y a! a e7i!"e " bei g "ra !*$rm! i" 'i"&$%" rea)&i g *$r a $"&erdime !i$ 0 Sar"re a#!$ !a#%"e! Kierkegaard6! re*ig%ri g $* a )er"aiimm$r"a#i"y i "erm! $* i 'ard e!!. a d *reed$m a! "ied %+ 'i"& &i!"$ri)a#!i"%a"ed e!! a d +ar"i)%#ari"y. $" #imi"ed by i"0 I" i! i Kierkegaard6!ma er $* re!+$ !e "$ C&ri!"ia i"y. $ e "&a" bear! 'i" e!! "$ "&e!e)$ e)"i$ !. "&a" Sar"re )$ e)"! 'i"& &im0 A! Sar"re +%" i". i '$rd! "&a")$%#d $" m$re +r$*$% d#y $r m$re bea%"i*%##y &$ $%r a "&i ker di!agreed 'i"&:

'i"&i ea)& $* %! &e $**er! a d re*%!e! &im!e#*. a! &e did i &i! $'#i*e"ime &e i! my ad,e "%re a d remai !. *$r $"&er!. Kierkegaard. "&e $"&er a *ig%re $ "&e &$ri $ "e!"i*yi g "$ "&e C&ri!"ia "&a" *ai"& i! a *%"%rede,e#$+me " *$re,er im+eri##ed. "e!"i*yi g "$ my!e#* "&a" "&e +r$)e!! $*%ecoming&an&atheisti! a #$ g a d di**i)%#" e "er+ri!e0 Sar"re


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13 C&a+"er O e

a )&a ge i "&e e)$ $my $* de!ire. e)e!!i"a"i g a di**ere " re#a"i$ !&i+ be"'ee ma a d g$d !;. ma a d ma . ma a d "&e '$r#d. ma a d'$ma 0 ibid0. 1F3;

A! I !ee i". !&e i! +r$+$!i g a de!ire $" ba!ed $ #a)k. $ e i '&i)&:

ma a#'ay! "e d! "$'ard! !$me"&i g e#!e 'i"&$%" e,er "%r i g "$ &er!e#* a!"&e !i"e $* a +$!i"i,e e#eme "0 ibid0;

W$ma . !&e 'ri"e!. re+re!e "! a +#a)e *$r ma . $**eri g &im a e ,e#$+e.'&i#e &a,i g $ +#a)e &er!e#*0 I #a g%age "&a" e)&$e! Kierkegaard6!di!)%!!i$ iThe Sickness Unto Death ; $* "&e !e#* a! )$ !"i"%"ed by i"!media"ed re#a"i$ "$ G$d. !&e i !i!"! $ !%)& a "&ird "erm i "&e *$rm $*'$ der. a ge#!. "&e )&i#d. a d $"&er +$!!ibi#i"ie! $* 4bir"&50 Her arg%me "i! "&a" G$d. "radi"i$ a##y % der!"$$d. i! "aki g %+ "&e e7i!"e "ia# !#a)k i&%ma re#a"i$ !&i+! )$ !"i"%"ed by a e)$ $my $* de!ire ba!ed $ #a)k0Car a# i "ima)y $**er! "&e +$!!ibi#i"y $* dra'i g "&e di,i e ba)k "$ i"! +r$+er +#a)e. i '&i)&. "&r$%g& #$,e a! )e#ebra"$ry m%"%a#i"y. a! $ e mig&"!ay. "ra !)e de )e be)$me! imma e " agai 0 A! a e7am+#e $* "&e ki d $*de!ire !&e i! "ryi g "$ m$,e bey$ d. !&e )i"e! Le,i a!6! a))$% " $* "&e)are!! a! a "$%)& "&a" e gage! "&e $"&er i a 'ay "&a" a "i)i+a"e! a *%"%re*$r "&e "$%)&er. $%ri!&i g &i! *%"%re +#ea!%re0 S&e $++$!e! "$ Le,i a4a%"i!"i). eg$#$gi)a# !$#i"ary #$,e5:

a !&ared $%"+$%ri g. "&e #$!! $* b$% darie! '&i)& "ake! +#a)e *$r b$"$,er! '&e "&ey )r$!! "&e b$% darie! $* "&e !ki i "$ "&e m%)$%!membra e! $* "&e b$dy. #ea,i g "&e )ir)#e '&i)& e )#$!e! my !$#i"%de "$

mee" i a !&ared !+a)e. a !&ared brea"&0 Irigaray 1 . 13=;

S&e )$ "i %e!:

I "&i! re#a"i$ . 'e are a" #ea!" "&ree. ea)& $* '&i)& i! irred%)ib#e "$ a y $*"&e $"&er!: y$%. me a d $%r '$rk. "&a" e)!"a!y $* $%r!e#* i %!. "&a""ra !)e de )e $* "&e *#e!& $* $ e "$ "&a" $* "&e $"&er be)$me $%r!e#* i %!.a" a y ra"e. Qi me6 a! a '$ma . +ri$r "$ a y )&i#d0 ibid0;

Her br$ke re*#e7i,e !y "a7 i! e,ide )e $* "&e !"r%gg#e "$ ar"i)%#a"e ae)!"a"i) re#a"i$ a#i"y i 'ay! "&a" d$ $" *a## ba)k $ )#i)& ! $*!ame e!! a d di**ere )e0


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-$r Irigaray "&e S$ g $* S$#$m$ re+re!e "! a +$i " +ri$r "$ "&eemerge )e $* a G$d $* #a'. a!!$)ia"ed 'i"& 'ri"i g. i '&i)& *#e!& a d "&e*emi i e are !"i## i +#ay0 S&e i! "ryi g "$ dem$ !"ra"e "&a" "&e #a g%age "&e di,i e. $* "ra !)e de )e. $* e)!"a!y. a d *i a##y $* G$d. )a a## be +$'er*%##y i !)ribed i a +$!"/eg$#$gi)a# er$"i)i!m. $ e '&i)& bear!'i" e!! "$ "&e re!id%a# +$'er $* "&e *emi i e0 I % der!"a d "&i! "&$%g&" " be +$#i"i)a# i "&a" i" +r$?e)"! a '$r#d g$,er ed by a e' e)$ $my $*de!ire. a d i" $**er! a +a"& "&e re/$+e i g $* "&e er$"i) "&r$%g& '&i)&'e )a imagi e "&a" "&i! e)$ $my mig&" m$re ge era##y be rea#i!ed0

0I &a,e 'ri""e a" #e g"& e#!e'&ere ab$%" Derrida6! "rea"me " $*Kierkegaard i The 'ift of Death 1 F; !ee W$$d


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T&e Si g%#ar U i,er!a#: O e M$re Time


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T&e Si g%#ar U i,er!a#: O e M$re Time 1 T e %!tte" .-etis i9e#0 !)#i#e)ti-ie# /it t e i#e!%ise# -emi)i)it4 o- is e"oi)e M!#!me Bo&!"47 e&e) to t e e*te)t o- +"o %!imi)( .M!#!me Bo&!"4, est moi0 ?=> 1Ho/e&e", F%!3$e"t !%so m!)i-este# !)imosit4 to/!"# "e!%2%i-e /ome),.+!"ti i+!ti)( i) ! +!tte") o- im!(i)!tio) !)# o- $e !&io3" !%% too ommo)i) mo#e")ism0 ?= 1 O) t e o)e !)#, M!#!me Bo&!"4 .is +ositio)e# !s !

"e!#e" o- i)-e"io" %ite"!t3"e7s3$6e ti&e, emotio)!% !)# +!ssi&e05 o) t eot e" !)#, F%!3$e"t +o"t"!4s imse%- !s ! ./"ite" o- (e)3i)e, !3t e)ti%ite"!t3"e7o$6e ti&e, i"o)i , !)# i) o)t"o% o- is !est eti me!)s0 ?=> 1

H34sse)s mo"e (e)e"!% !)# mo"e +o%iti !% +oi)t is t !t m!%e .!&!)t2(!"#e0 !)# .mo#e")ist0 /"ite"s s4stem!ti !%%4 i()o"e# t e /o"' o-

om+!"!$%e /ome) !"tists, /"ite"s !)# "iti s / ose /o"' is #ismisse# !s.+o+3%!"0 !)# !ssi()e# to ! -emi)ise# m!ss 3%t3"e, /it its t "e!te)i)(!)# #iso"#e"%4 . "o/#01 T is +"o#3 e# !) 3)#e"st!)#i)( o- / !t ismo#e") t !t is +"o2-emi)i)e, $3t t !t is +"emise# o) t e e* %3sio) o-

fe!ale +e"s+e ti&es o) o)tem+o"!"4 isto"i !% #e$!tes1 O&e"%oo'i)( / !t! t3!% /ome) /"ite"s !)# !"tists s!4 !)# "e!te !s, !s ! o)se83e) e,o&e"em+ !sise# s3 -e!t3"es !s t e .!3to)om40 !)# .+3"it40 o- t e !"t/o"'

O)%4 $4 -o"ti-4i)( its $o3)#!"ies, $4 m!i)t!i)i)( its +3"it4 !)# !3to)om4,!)# $4 !&oi#i)( !)4 o)t!mi)!tio) /it m!ss 3%t3"e !)# /it t esi()i-4i)( s4stems o- e&e"4#!4 %i-e !) t e !"t /o"' m!i)t!i) its !#&e"s!"4st!) e !#&e"s!"4 to t e $o3"(eois 3%t3"e o- e&e"4#!4 %i-e !s /e%% !s!#&e"s!"4 to m!ss 3%t3"e !)# e)te"t!i)me)t / i !"e see) !s t e +"im!"4

-o"ms o- $o3"(eois 3%t3"!% !"ti 3%!tio)1 ?H34sse) :@, =


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Kie"'e(!!"#, t e P !)tom o- t e P3$%i !)# t e Se*3!% Po%iti s o- C"o/#s :C "isti)e B!tte"s$4

H34sse) s3++o"ts t is !)!%4sis $4 "e-e"e) e to S!"t"es t"e!tme)t o-F%!3$e"t i) The 'a!ily (diot t e :@ : ; /o"' o- + i%oso+ i !%

$io("!+ 4 i) / i S!"t"e #e&e%o+s t e !te(o"4 o- t e .si)(3%!"3)i&e"s!%0 to #es "i$e t e i)#i&i#3!% / ose %i-e is .o"! 3%!"0 i) t e /!4 it"e-%e ts t e %i-e o- t e e+o 7t 3s, #e&e%o+i)( -3"t e" t e o) e+t t !t e-i"st 3se# i) /"iti)( !$o3t Kie"'e(!!"# i) :@>= ?M B"i#e :@@ 1E%se/ e"e ?B!tte"s$4 :@@= I !&e !"(3e# t !t it is $e !3se Simo)e #eBe!3&oi" i)te")!%ises S!"t"es )otio) o- t e .si)(3%!" 3)i&e"s!%07/it its%i)'s to !ale +!tte")s o- "e!so)i)( !)# o- e*+"essio)7t !t s e !sse"ts .I!m )ot ! + i%oso+ e", $3t ! %ite"!"4 /"ite"5 S!"t"e is t e + i%oso+ e"0?Simo)s :@


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"o/# !)# to +o+3%!" -em!%e /"ite"s1 Two Ages: A Literary Review is +e" !+s Kie"'e(!!"#s most e*+%i it%4 +o%iti !% /o"', $3t it is o)e t !t is/"itte) i) t e -o"m o- ! %ite"!"4 "iti83e !)# !)!%4sis o- T om!si)eG4%%em$o3"(s %!st )o&e%Two Ages / i !++e!"e# i) :


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Kie"'e(!!"#, t e P !)tom o- t e P3$%i !)# t e Se*3!% Po%iti s o- C"o/#s C "isti)e B!tte"s$4

t !t +3$%i is !) o"(!)i 3)it4 / i "em!i)s t"3e to its o"i(i)s !)# is )ot. o""3+te# $4 me#io "e "e&ie/e"s0 ?i$i#1, : 1 As Hei$e"( +3ts it i) is:


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to ! m3 o%#e" m!), Pete" A)#"e!s Hei$e"(, / o /!s s3$se83e)t%4 $!)is e# -"om De)m!"' i) : @@ $e !3se o- is +o%iti !% /"iti)(5 ! #i&o" ei) :< : t !t s e i)iti!te# i) o"#e" to m!""4 e" %o&e"7! S/e#is B!"o)/ o !# $ee) e*i%e# -"om S/e#e) -o" is i)&o%&eme)t i) t e m3"#e" o-t e t4"!))i !% S/e#is Ki)( G3st!& III7!)# ! %o)( +e"io# o- /i#o/ oo#/ i i) %3#e# s !"i)( ! o3se /it e" so) !)# is /i-e, o !))e L3iseHei$e"(, o)e o- De)m!"'s most e%e$"!te# ! t"esses !)# t e -o 3s o-Kie"'e(!!"#s :


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O)%4 / e"e t e"e is )o st"o)( omm3)!% %i-e to (i&e s3$st!) e to t eo) "etio) /i%% t e +"ess "e!te t is !$st"! tio) t e +3$%i 1 ?i$i#1, @:

T e"e is )ot i)( .o"(!)i 07!s Hei$e"( !# !sse"te# ?Ki"mmse :@@ ,: 7!$o3t .t e +3$%i 0 i) t is mo#e") se)se5 i)ste!#, it is ! .mo)st"o3s)o)e)tit40 / i is . %!ime# to $e ! / o%e,0 $3t / i is m!#e 3+ o-.3)s3$st!)ti!% i)#i&i#3!%s0 / o )e&e" ome to(et e" to ! t i) o) e"t7 !)# / o )e&e" ,ould ome to(et e"7$e !3se .it !))ot e&e) !&e so

m3 !s ! si)(%e "e+"ese)t!ti&e0 ?Kie"'e(!!"# :@


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t4+e o- mo#e") /om!) to "e+"ese)t .t e "o/#0 !)# t e )e/ t4+e o-.+3$%i 0 / i o&e"s $et/ee) t e s+ e"es o- t e -3%%4 +"i&!te !)#i)#i&i#3!%, o) t e o)e !)#, !)# t !t t4+e o- ?%ost omm3)it4 t !t iso"(!)i ?t e G"ee' it42st!te o" polis 1 De+%o4i)( ! t/e)t42-i"st e)t3"4! "o)4m, o)e mi( t s!4 t !t t e se o)# M"s W!%%e" is ! WYSIWYG

+ e)ome)o) / !t 4o3 see is / !t 4o3 (et1 Be !3se mo#e")it4 !s )ot!%%o/e# e" to #e&e%o+ -3%%4 !s !) i)#i&i#3!%, t e"es )o i##e)i)#i&i#3!%it4 t !t is /!iti)( to $e "e&e!%e#1

As /e%% !s %i)'i)( t e -emi)i)e to t!/#"4 s3"-! es, Kie"'e(!!"# !%soo))e ts /ome) to t e 'i)# o- . !tte"0 t !t +"e&e)ts i)#i&i#3!%it4 -"om

#e&e%o+i)(1 T is is e&i#e)t i) ! s o"t +ie e e)tit%e# .Fo" t e De#i !tio) toT !t Si)(%e I)#i&i#3!%0 / i Kie"'e(!!"# /o"'e# o) #3"i)( : !)#

:


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e&e) t o3( Kie"'e(!!"# %e!"%4 !%so #oes )ot -it /it t e t4+e o- !)ti2-em!%e mo#e")ism t !t H34sse) #ete ts i) %!te" !&!)t2(!"#e m!%e /"ite"s/ o +!4 )o !tte)tio) to "e!%2%i-e /ome) /"ite"s, !)# i)ste!# -etis i9e t e!3to)omo3s ?m!%e se%- !)# !%so !) o&e"%4 .+3"i-ie#0 !)# .-o"m!%03)#e"st!)#i)( o- .!"t01

T 3s, Kie"'e(!!"# "e!#s !)# e)(!(es /it t e +o+3%!" -i tio) o-T om!si)e G4%%em$o3"(7!)# e&e) (i&es it + i%oso+ i !% /ei( t1 I) is"e&ie/, e 3ses em$%em!ti -em!%e -i(3"es7s3 !s t e -i(3"es o-C%!3#i)e !)# M!"i!)e -"om G4%%em$o3"(s )o&e%7to st!)# -o" / !tS!"t"e /o3%# !&e !%%e# ?-o%%o/i)( Kie"'e(!!"# .t e si)(3%!"3)i&e"s!%01 T ese t/o /ome) "em!i) i)#i&i#3!%s !)# em$%em!tise-!it -3%)ess, / et e" o" )ot t e times !"e -!&o3"!$%e to "om!)ti %o&e ?!s ist e !se /it C%!3#i)e / o $e%o)(s to t e !(e o- "e&o%3tio) o" !"e mo"e"e-%e ti&e !)# )o)2i)#i&i#3!%isti ?!s is t e !se /it M!"i!)e / o %i&eso)%4 i) .t e +"ese)t !(e0 1 Ho/e&e", / !t is !%so %e!" is t !t -o"Kie"'e(!!"# ! /om!) #oes )ot st!)# i) t e s!me "e%!tio) to i)#i&i#3!%it4!s #oes ! m!)1 As s3 , s e is )ot .o"! 3%!"0 i) t e S!"t"e!) se)se s e#oes )ot "e+"ese)t all i)#i&i#3!%s / o e*ist i) ! (i&e) e+o 1 It is,

o/e&e", t e !se t !t t e mo#e") /om!) "esem$%es t e mo#e") m!) -o"Kie"'e(!!"#, i)so-!" !s e! !s ! +"o$%em i) (!i)i)( !)4 s3$st!)ti&ei)#i&i#3!%it41 .Le&e%%i)(0 !)# .t e "o/#0 !%/!4s t "e!te)1

Two Ages: A Literary Review "e/o"'s7."e+e!ts07m!)4 o- t et emes o- Kie"'e(!!"#s +se3#o)4mo3s Repetition ?:


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o" so3t o" e!st /i)# 7!s it "e+etiti&e%4 6o3")e4s ! "oss t e %!)#s !+e t !tis itse%- o)-i(3"e# !)# s !+e# $4 t e /i)#s o/) +o/e"1 T e /i)# !s )o

+"i&i%e(e# ')o/%e#(e !$o3t its o/) eme"(e)t i#e)tit41 T e /i)#

+"o#3 e# )o/ ! s "ie' !%most st!"t%i)( to itse%-, t e) ! o%%o/ "o!" -"om/ i it itse%- -%e#, t e) ! mo!), t e so3" e o- / i it itse%- #i# )ot ')o/,t e) -"om t e !$4ss o- !)*iet4 ! si( so #ee+ t !t t e /i)# itse%- ("e/-"i( te)e#1 ?Kie"'e(!!"# :@< , :

T e /i)# is )ot t e %o)e s !+e" o- itse%-, $3t )eit e" #oes t e %!)#s !+e!%o)e #ete"mi)e t e i#e)tit4 o- t e /i)#1 I)ste!#, t e i#e)tities o- t e /i)#!)# o- t e %!)#s !+e !"e m3t3!%%4 i)te"#e+e)#e)t1 T e %!)#s !+e is itse%-"!#i !%%4 t"!)s-o"me#7i)to ! #ese"t, ! !)4o) o" ! (e)t%e &!%e7!s t e!%ie) /i)# !#!+ts to, !)# s/e"&es "o3)#, t e %!)#s !+e -e!t3"es t !t !"e

o)-i(3"e# !s o$st! %es o", !%te")!ti&e%4, !s !))e%s t !t i)te)si-4 its +o/e"1

I) Two Ages: A Literary Review , Kie"'e(!!"# "et3")s to t e /i)#

met!+ o" / e) e s3((ests t !t / !t !++e)s i) t e !se o- t emo#e")it4, !)# / e) .%e&e%%i)(0 !)# . !tte"0 #omi)!te, is t !t t ei)#i&i#3!%s "e%!tio)s i+ /it is o" e" se%- is st3)te#, so t !t -3%%i)#i&i#3!%it4 -!i%s to !++e!"1 No/, /"iti)( i) is o/) &oi e, Kie"'e(!!"#i)sists t !t %e&e%%i)( is %i'e .! t"!#e/i)# t !t o)s3mes e&e"4t i)(0?Kie"'e(!!"# :@


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Kie"'e(!!"#, t e P !)tom o- t e P3$%i !)# t e Se*3!% Po%iti s o- C"o/#s @C "isti)e B!tte"s$4

Ho/e&e", !s Kie"'e(!!"# !%so i)#i !tes, t e i)!$i%it4 o- .t e e"o0 to $%o ' t e .t"!#e/i)#0 o- .%e&e%%i)(0 t !t m!"'s .t e +"ese)t !(e0 #oes )ot +"e&e)t ! !%to(et e" #i--e"e)t 'i)# o- .si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 -"om eme"(i)(1As e e*+%i it%4 "em!"'s i) t e #"!-t -o" The Point of View , !%t o3( t e

o) e+t o- .t e si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 /!s t e"e i) e&e"4 o)e o- t e +se3#o)4mo3s /o"'s, i) t e !est eti /o"'s it me!)t .! si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%i) t e emi)e)t se)se0 ?Kie"'e(!!"# :@@ 1 B4 o)t"!st, / e) t e

+ "!se .si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 !++e!"s i) t e "e%i(io3s /o"'s, it si()i-ies ./ !te&e"4 3m!) $ei)( is0 ?i$i#1 1 Kie"'e(!!"# t e) e*+%!i)s o/ iste )i83e i) is "e%i(io3s te*ts is to s/it $et/ee) $ot me!)i)(s o- t e

+ "!se i) 83i ' s3 essio), o+i)( t e"e$4 to se#3 e t ose ./ o #esi"e to $e t e si)(%e i)#i&i#3!% o- t e +se3#o)4ms,0 o)%4 to ."e+e%0 t em $4 .t et o3( t o- t e si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 !s 3se# i) t e .3+$3i%#i)(0 te*ts1

I) t e %!tte" te*ts, . the single individual is t e !te(o"4 t "o3( / i ,i) ! "e%i(io3s se)se, t e !(e, isto"4, t e 3m!) "! e m3st (o0 ?::


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I) t e se o)# se)se o- $ei)( ! .si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%07!)# o- $e omi)( i)! t3!%it4 ./ !t e&e"4 3m!) $ei)( is07/ !t is "e83i"e#, ! o"#i)( toKie"'e(!!"#, is ! o)e2to2o)e "e%!tio) /it Go# !)# /it ot e"s1 It is t is)o)2t"i&i!% "e%!tio)s i+ /it ot e"s t !t /i%% #ee+e) o)es o/) "e%!tio)/it o)ese%-, !)# e)!$%e o)e $e t !t t4+e o- .si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 / o !st e st"e)(t )ot to 6oi) i) /it .t e "o/#0 / i mo 's !)# s+its !t es3s!s e /!%'s to/!"#s t e Hi%% o- C!%&!"4 ?Kie"'e(!!"# :@@ !, ; @ 1 Its

+e" !+s /it t is .#"e!#-3% e+iso#e0 ?i$i#1 i) mi)# t !t Kie"'e(!!"#i)#i !tes t !t t is st"o)(, $3t )e&e"t e%ess )ot e"oi , .si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 isto $e -o3)# i) t e . o)("e(!tio),0 / i .!$o&e !%% m3st )ot $e o)-3se#/it / !t politi,ally !) !&e &!%i#it4 t e +3$%i , t e "o/#, t e)3me"i !%, et 10 ?Kie"'e(!!"# :@@ >> 1 Si) eKie"'e(!!"# !%so st!tes t !t .3) o)#itio)!%%4 e&e"4 3m!) $ei)(, / io)e i)#ee# is, !) $e, 4es, s o3%# $e7t e si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 ?i$i#1, : , it/o3%# t 3s o) e !(!i) seem t !t $ei)( .! si)(%e i)#i&i#3!%0 i) t e se o)#se)se is7!t %e!st i) t eo"47(e)#e" )e3t"!%1 U)-o"t3)!te%4, o/e&e", !s/e !&e !%so o$se"&e#, it is t e (ossi+i)( /ome) !)# !%so t e WYSIWYG/i-e / o ome to st!)# -o" t e o)-o"mit4 !)# %! ' o- i)/!"#)ess o- .t e

"o/#01A%t o3( Kie"'e(!!"# e&i#e)t%4 !#mi"e# t e . o3se/i-e0 ? -ustru 7

omme)ti)( e*+%i it%4 i) ! #"!-t o- +ither r o) t e "i )ess o- t is te"m/ i %i)'s t e m!""ie# /om!) to .-!it -3%)ess0 to $ot 3s$!)# !)#

ome ?Kie"'e(!!"# :@< $, 7 e !%so seems to !&e "e(!"#e#m!""i!(e !s ! +e"i%o3s st!te1 T e o)t"!st $et/ee) .t e (i"%0 ?/ o e*ists i)t e i)-i)ite, .o3tsi#e time,0 !s !) o$6e t o- e%3si&e #esi"e !)# t e m!""ie#/om!) ?/ o is "e)#e"e# .tem+o"!%0 &i! m!""i!(e /!s !%so ! -e!t3"e o-

some o- t e !est eti /o"'s ?Kie"'e(!!"# :@


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Kie"'e(!!"#, t e P !)tom o- t e P3$%i !)# t e Se*3!% Po%iti s o- C"o/#s =:C "isti)e B!tte"s$4

Kie"'e(!!"#s :, :; , t e .+!"!mete"s o- power& privilege& interest& and


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,olle,tive a#ility 0 !%/!4s im+! t o) t e #i--e"e)ti!% "es+o)si$i%it4 t !t!(e)ts !&e -o" t ei" ! tio)s1 I)-%3e) e# $ot $4 #i--e"e) e -emi)ism !)#

$4 + e)ome)o%o(4, Yo3)( "iti ise# ! )!""o/, .%i!$i%it40 mo#e% o-"es+o)si$i%it4, !)# $e(!) to #e&e%o+ i)ste!# ! .so i!% o))e tio) mo#e% o-"es+o)si$i%it40 ?: ; 1 S e m!i)t!i)e# t !t, i) !##itio) to t e .(3i%t4 )ot(3i%t40 mo#e% o- 63sti e t !t o3" %!/ o3"ts "e83i"e, /e !%so )ee#7!)# i)-! t !%"e!#4 /o"' /it 7! %oose" mo#e% o- "es+o)si$i%it4 / i o)si#e"s

o/ o)e -its i) /it so i!% ("o3+i)(s / i !"e %i'e%4 to m!'e ot e"s&3%)e"!$%e to !"m ?:;; 1 Fo" Yo3)(, i) ot e" /o"#s, /e !"e %i!$%e i)so-!"!s /e sim+%4 (o !%o)( /it .t e "o/#,0 i- t !t "o/# o" i)stit3tio) #oes)ot "es+e t t e &3%)e"!$i%ities o- ot e"s1

Fo" Yo3)( ?:; , ."es+o)si$i%it4 #e"i&e# -"om so i!% o))e tio), t e),is 3%tim!te%4 politi,al "es+o)si$i%it4,0 !)# e%se/ e"e ?; s e e*+%o"est ose omm3)!% ("o3+i)(s o- t e St!te, i&i !sso i!tio)s !)# t e#emo "!ti so i!% s+ e"e t !t !"e e)!$%i)( to t e #e&e%o+me)t o-i)#i&i#3!%it4, !s /e%% !s t ose t !t !"e !%so +ote)ti!%%4 #is!$%i)(1 Fo"Yo3)(, !%i()i)( /it ot e"s !)# ! ti)( o%%e ti&e%4 !s ! +o%iti !% o" so i!%,olle,tive !) !%so +"o#3 e +ositi&e so i!% !)# +e"so)!% !)(e1 A)# t isme!)s t !t !%t o3( Yo3)(s e)te"+"ise -o" "e2im!(i)i)( 63sti e !)#"es+o)si$i%it4 is $"o!#%4 i) %i)e /it some o- t e i)si( ts to $e -o3)# i)Kie"'e(!!"#s !est eti /"iti)(s, s e is -!" %ess i) t3)e /it t eKie"'e(!!"# o- Two Ages !)# t e "e%i(io3s /"iti)(s si) e i) t e %!tte", !s/e !&e see), t e . "o/#0 !)# t e mo#e") .+3$%i 0 !"e !%/!4s !)# o)%4negatively +o"t"!4e#1

A%t o3( Kie"'e(!!"# !"(3es t !t it is $%!me/o"t 4 to !$"o(!tei)#i&i#3!%it4 $4 !%%o/i)( o)ese%- to sim+%4 $e ! mem$e" o- .t e "o/#,0

e #oes )ot (o o) to m!'e t e politi,al mo&e / i /o3%# o3t%i)e o/"esist!) e is to $e ! om+%is e#1 T is is %e-t !s ! t!s' -o" ot e"s -o"H!))! A"e)#t, -o" e*!m+%e, / o #oes, i) e--e t, $3i%# o) Kie"'e(!!"#s! o3)t o- .t e + !)tom o- t e +3$%i 0 to #e%i)e!te e" o/) ?&e"4

+"o$%em!ti o) e+t o- .t e so i!%0 / i s e +o"t"!4s !s i)!#e83!te i)"es+e t to $ot t e +3$%i !)# t e +"i&!te s+ e"es ?A"e)#t :@


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Kie"'e(!!"#, t e P !)tom o- t e P3$%i !)# t e Se*3!% Po%iti s o- C"o/#s =C "isti)e B!tte"s$4

t eo"ists, $3t is ! ')o/%e#(e# te*ts !"e e&!si&e i)so-!" !s t e +o%iti !%iss3es !"e o) e")e#1 T 3s, / i%st its t"3e t !t Kie"'e(!!"# #oes +"o&i#e !&!%3!$%e o3)te" to mo#e%s o- t e +o%iti !% t !t -!i% to "e(iste" #e+e)#e) 4!)# t e o2#e+e)#e) ies o- em$o#ie# se%&es, e 3%tim!te%4 -!i%s to !##"ess/ !t -o" me !s $e ome t e 'e4 et i !% !)# +o%iti !% 83estio)s o- t e )e/.+"ese)t !(e0 / i is, i)#ee#, !%so ! )e/ .me#i! !(e07!)# o)e / i

e +"e2&isio)e# /it 3) !))4 ! 3"! 41 Kie"'e(!!"# #oes )ot e%+ me to#isti)(3is $et/ee) !$3si&e !)# )o)2!$3si&e e*e" ises o- +o/e", !)# e!%so #oes )ot !##"ess t e 83estio) o- o/ i)#i&i#3!%it4 ?o", i)#ee#, !%sot e +o%iti !% !) -%o3"is i) ! /o"%# i) / i .t e + !)tom o- t e +3$%i 0is7%i'e +o/e"7!%/!4s !)# e&e"4/ e"e +e"&!si&e1


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== C !+te" T/o

Notes

: 1 I) The Point of View Kie"'e(!!"# #oes to some e*te)t 3)#e"mi)e t e #isti) tio) $et/ee) t e .!est eti 0 !)# t e ."e%i(io3s0 /o"'s / e) e i)siste)t%4 +%!4s /itt e )otio) t !t is !3t o"s i+ /!s -"om t e st!"t "e%i(io3s1 W et e" t is is"et"os+e ti&e 63sti-i !tio) o" !) ! 3"!te "e+o"t, it )e&e"t e%ess #oes )ot #et"! t-"om t e #isti) tio) $et/ee) t ose +se3#o)4mo3s te*ts7t e .!est eti/"iti)(s07/ i !##"ess "e%i(io3s t emes i)#i"e t%4 ?i- !t !%% !)# t e .o/)e#0

/"iti)(s / i /e"e +"o#3 e#, o-te) o)tem+o"!)eo3s%4, !)# / i t! '%e#"e%i(io3s t emes i) ! mo"e +o%emi !% !)# #i"e t /!41 Two Ages $e%o)(s /it !

!)#-3% o- .o/)e#0 te*ts / i t! '%e !est eti t emes1; 1 He"e!-te" s o"te)e# to Two Ages: A Literary Review i) o"#e" to #isti)(3is it-"om T om!si)e G4%%em$o3"(s )o&e%, Two Ages , / i I !%so #is 3ss1

1 I !m )ot s3((esti)( t !t !%% #is!("eeme)ts $et/ee) -emi)ists / o e)(!(e /itKie"'e(!!"#s +o%iti s !)# et i s "e#3 e to t is si)(%e iss3e1 T 3s, -o" e*!m+%e,Assite" ?; @ !)# ; ::! #"!/s o) #i--e"e) e -emi)ism, / i%st !%so "e! i)( somest"i'i)(%4 #i--e"e)t o) %3sio)s !$o3t t e im+o"t!) e o- Kie"'e(!!"#s "e%i(io3s/"iti)(s -o" +o%iti !% t o3( t1

=1 H34sse) is 83oti)( G3st!&e Le Bo)s %!ssi !)# i)-%3e)ti!% st3#4 o- TheCrowd ? La Psy,hologie des 'oules , :1 I) is "e-%e tio)s o) H!)s C "isti!) A)#e"se)s )o&e% nly a 'iddler , +3$%is e#/ i%st e /!s ! st3#e)t i) :< < ?see Kie"'e(!!"# :@


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@ Cha/ter Three

mome!t. t /resa7e- the ho/e o0 some 7e!+ !e,4 a,ter!at 3e /o, t *a, 0orm =!e ther *o!3e!t o!a, , 2era, -emo*ra*4 !or a!4 other #!ow! state0ormat o!1&

For "e#. ! the mome!t o0 re3o,+t o!. the Ira! a! /eo/,e were 2otha*t !7 *o,,e*t 3e,4 as a /eo/,e a!-. the4 were. ! some s 7! 0 *a!t se!se. /ro/er,4 0ree the r a*t o!s were !ot -eterm !e-1 Th s 3 ew o0 0ree-omm 7ht !ot 0+,,4 sat s04 those , 2ertar a!s 0or whom 0ree a*ts. to 2e s+*h.m+st , tera,,4 2e *a+sa s+ 1 E3e! 0 t - - !ot -emo!strate a tr+,4, 2ertar a! !ot o! o0 0ree-om. o!e *o+,- ar7+e that the re3o,+t o!. at ts

!*e/t o!. was a! a*t that 2ro#e w th *o!3e!t o!a, *a+sa, /atter!s1 It was!ot a! a*t that *,ear,4 0,owe- 0rom a re7+,ar t4 o0 *o!!e*t o! 2etwee!*a+se a!- e00e*t %see H+me 5(68)1 The Ira! a! re3o,+t o!. ! the mome!to0 re3o,+t o!. /erha/s a,so *o!st t+te- the +,t mate /o, t *a, a*t. the+,t mate a*t o0 a /eo/,e a*t !7 as a *o,,e*t 3e. as a +! 3ersa,1@

I wo+,- , #e to t+r! !ow to "e#$s *r t *a, *omme!ts %&''(. 5 8 )a2o+t 9,o3 !7 o!e$s !e 7h2o+r : the se*o!- 9theme o0 the /a/er1 "e#re0ers to La*a!$s -es*r /t o! o0 the !e 7h2o+r as 9the Th !7 =the

!h+ma! *ore % 2 -1. 5 8) o0 the !e 7h2o+r ,+r# !7 2eh !- e3er4 h+ma!0a*e1 Fre+- a!- La*a!. "e# ar7+es. are !ot o!,4 ma# !7 the /o !t thatthe 9!e 7h2o+r !3ar a2,4 e


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Lo3e 0or Ne 7h2o+rs @6A, so! Ass ter

B+t !stea- o0 re3ert !7 to a!7+ sh. the s+2 e*t s a2,e. thro+7h h+mo+r. to /+t tse,0 at a - sta!*e 0rom ts 7+ ,t18

"e# *ha,,e!7es Cr t*h,e4$s !ter/retat o! o0 La*a!. s+77est !7 thatthere s a se,0 +!-er,4 !7 the /ro*ess o0 s+2 e*t 0 *at o! or there wo+,- 2e!oth !7 to e!7a7e ! th s /ro*ess1 Fo,,ow !7 La*a!. howe3er. he -e!t 0 esth s *ore se,0 w th the Fre+- a! 9-eath -r 3e 1 There s. 0or h m. a! !0 ! t4at the *ore o0 the se,0 wh *h *om/r ses a La*a! a! 9Rea, %see La*a!5(66) -e!t 0 e- w th the 9-eath -r 3e 1 The , m t o0 the -ea o0 ,o3 !7o!e$s !e 7h2o+r s the Na th+7: 9Ca! we ma7 !e !3 t !7 a Na th+7 tote,, +s h s stor4 % "e# &''( , 5&) Th s !ot o! o0 the se,0 s a,so o+t, !e- 24 "e# ! h s wor#The Parallax View %&'' ). where he rea-sK er#e7aar- as art *+,at !7:

the most ra- *a, a+the!t * *ore o0 2e !7 h+ma!.11 as a concrete practico-ethical engagement and or choice which precedes !and grounds" e#ery$theory%&' % "e#$s ta, *s. &'' . 68)

He ar7+es that t was Ka!t who ,a - the 7ro+!-wor# 0or what he *a,,s a!t /h ,oso/h4. wh *h. 0or h m. !*,+-es the wor# o0 K er#e7aar-1 Ka!t. he*,a ms. ,a - th s 7ro+!-wor# thro+7h assert !7 the /r ma*4 o0 /ra*t *a,o3er theoret *a, reaso! % "e# &'' )1

It s m/orta!t to !ote that "e# re*o7! ses that K er#e7aar- sHe7e, a! !so0ar as he re*o7! ses that h+ma! 2e !7s are o!to,o7 *a,,4

!ter*o!!e*te- ! a -4!am * /ro*ess1 "e# a,so !otes that Go-. 0orK er#e7aar-. s !ot a s+2sta!*e. 2+t rather. s 92e4o!- the or-er o0 Be !7% "e# &'' . 6()1 A,tho+7h I -o !ot ha3e the s/a*e to ar7+e the /o !t here.

! m4 3 ew "e# ma#es K er#e7aar- o+t to 2e too m+*h o0 a F *htea! !h s /r or t s !7 o0 /ra*t *a, reaso!1 I ar7+e e,sewhere %Ass ter &'5& seea,so Kos*h &'' 0or e3 -e!*e o0 the !0,+e!*e o0 S*he,, !7 o!K er#e7aar-) that a! m/orta!t /re-e*essor ! the Germa! I-ea, sttra- t o! s S*he,, !7. a!-. 0o,,ow !7 Ia ! Gra!t %&'' ). I rea- S*he,, !7!at+ra, st *a,,41 For S*he,, !7. as 0or h s /a!the st /re-e*essor S/ !o a.the A2so,+te s Nat+re !at+re *a! 2e art *+,ate- 2oth -4!am *a,,4 a!- as as+2sta!*e1 F ! te rat o!a, 2e !7s. ! th s / *t+re. are -eterm !at o!s o0 th sa2so,+te=the4 e3o,3e -4!am *a,,41 K er#e7aar- ?+otes S*he,, !7 0a r,4

0re?+e!t,4 !The Concept of (nxiety

a!- there are re0ere!*es. thro+7ho+th s wor#. to the h+ma! 2e !7 as a -4!am * !at+ra, 2e !7 %see Ass ter.0orth*om !7 &'5& 0or th s e3 -e!*e)1


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@; Cha/ter Three

I wo+,- , #e. ! th s /a/er. to res/o!- to "e#$s a//ro/r at o! o0Fo+*a+,t ! two wa4s1 F rst,4. t seems to me that "e#. -es/ te h s*r t ?+e o0 Ka!t. rema !s w th ! a Ka!t a! 0rame wh *h sha/es h sth !# !71 It seems to me that there s. ! K er#e7aar-. 2oth a *r t ?+e o0th s Ka!t a! 3 ew a!- a! !ter/retat o! o0 the !ot o! o0 9,o3 !7 o!e$s!e 7h2o+r that *a! o3er*ome the , m tat o!s "e# 0 !-s ! t1 I!-ee- Iw ,, ar7+e ! th s /a/er that K er#e7aar-$s !ot o! o0 9,o3 !7 a !e 7h2o+rhas reso!a!*es o0 the s+2, me ! /re* se,4 the se!se "e# a//,a+-s !Fo+*a+,t$s a//ro/r at o! o0 the 5(6( Ira! a! re3o,+t o!1 It o00ers a mome!to0 0ree-om. ! a stro!7er se!se tha! that o00ere- sta!-ar-,4 24*om/at 2 , sts 2etwee! 0ree-om a!- -eterm ! sm a!- !-ee- tha! thato00ere- 24 He7e, t re/rese!ts. ! a se!se I w ,, o+t, !e. a 9+! 3ersa,s+2 e*t t -e/ *ts the o3er*om !7 o0 0ear or a!< et4 a!- t. 0 !a,,4.*hara*ter ses a s+2 e*t somehow *a+7ht 2etwee! ts 0 ! t+-e a!- tsa//rehe!s o! o0 !0 ! t41

The Sublime

F rst. howe3er. I wo+,- , #e to *,ar 04 what m 7ht 2e mea!t 24 the9s+2, me here1 It s a *o!*e/t that s w -e,4 +se-. /art *+,ar,4 amo!7stthose s4m/athet * to /ost Ka!t a! E+ro/ea! /h ,oso/h41 It s !-ee- a*o!*e/t that s +se- 24 K er#e7aar- h mse,0 %or 24 h s /se+-o!4ms):

!-ee-. ! Fear and Trem)ling . oha!!es -e S ,e!t o re0ers to the9s+2, m t4 o0 A2raham$s /ro/ose- sa*r 0 *e o0 Isaa* %5(;8a. 6')16

For Ka!t. !The Criti*ue of +udgment %5(;6) the s+2, me s the /re* se /o !t where a//eara!*es res st 2e !7 0orme- !to o!e 2ea+t 0+,re/rese!tat o!1 A**or- !7 to h m. whe! we ma#e +-7eme!ts a2o+t thes+2, me ! !at+re. we are !3o,3e- ! a # !- o0 asto! shme!t 2or-er !7 o!terror1 The o2ser3er. howe3er. -oes !ot e


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Lo3e 0or Ne 7h2o+rs @(A, so! Ass ter

rea- !7. that the s+2, me s 9a! o2 e*t ra se- to the ,e3e, o0 a! m/oss 2,eth !7 1 I wo+,- , #e. ! the 0 !a, se*t o! o0 the /a/er. to ret+r! to th s a!-to the *o!trast !7 La*a! a! !ot o! o0 the s+2, me1 I ar7+e ! two other /,a*es that K er#e7aar- 2oth -e/,o4s th s !ot o! a!- mo3es 2e4o!- t !so 0ar as he 2oth !at+ra, ses the se,0 a!- the A2so,+te or Go-1 Th sA2so,+te !-ee- , es 2e4o!- the 0rame o0 the /oss 2,e e


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8' Cha/ter Three

!oth !7 2+t the torme!ts o0 -es/a r % 2 -1. 5' )1There are 3ar o+s wa4s ! wh *h K er#e7aar- *r t ?+es the aesthet *

a//roa*h to , 0e1 O!e *r t ?+e he m 7ht 2e o00er !7. as h !te- a2o3e. s thatthe 7oa,s o0 the aesthete are m/oss 2,e to rea, se1 I0 the se-+*er s

!3o,3e- who,,4 ! the /+rs+ t o0 /,eas+re. as s the *ase w th Do! +a!.h s e


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Lo3e 0or Ne 7h2o+rs 85A, so! Ass ter

*a!!ot 2e rea, se-. th+s ,ea- !7 to -es/a r. so too s the /er o- ! wh *h he, 3e- *hara*ter se- s m ,ar,4 24 -es/a r1

The -es/a r o0 the aesthete ar ses 0rom the 7oa,s 2e !7 m/oss 2,e toatta ! a!- 24 the 2a!#r+/t*4 o0 these 3er4 7oa,s the -es/a r o0 the

!- 3 -+a,. ! so 0ar as he s a /o, t *a, a7e!t ! K er#e7aar-$s /er o- !De!mar#. a,so ar ses 0rom the 2a!#r+/t*4 o0 the 7oa,s o0 the *o,,e*t 3e /eo/,e1 H s /eo/,e re0ra ! 0rom *ha,,e!7 !7 the eth *s +!-er,4 !7 h s ow! /o, t *a, or-er1 He s *r t *a, o0 what he *a,,s the 9*row- a!- o0 the9her- 1 Both !3o,3e /eo/,e s m/,4 7o !7 a2o+t the r -a ,4 , 3es w tho+t*ha,,e!7e1

H s /eo/,e are -es*r 2e- as e!7a7 !7 ! 9*hatter 1 The4 0orm 9theher- or 9the *row- wh *h. he s+77ests. ,ea-s to a ,oss o0 !- 3 -+a, t4. 2+t !- 3 -+a, t4 *o!*e 3e- ! a 3er4 s/e* 0 * se!se1 I!- 3 -+a,s are tr+,4

!- 3 -+a,s whe! the4 a**e/t that the4 are eth *a, 2e !7s a!- whe! the4a**e/t that the r 0ree-om ,ea-s to the r ha3 !7 res/o!s 2 , t es1 There aresome some. s+*h as Gre!e %5(8(. () who *,a m that K er#e7aar- 9re e*tsa!4 *o!*e/t o0 *omm+! t4 1 I! 0a*t. K er#e7aar-$s 0o*+s o! the !- 3 -+a,

s !ot at a,, at the e


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8& Cha/ter Three

re3o,+t o! ! a /re* se,4 /ara,,e, se!se to that o0 "e#. ! the 0o,,ow !7 /assa7e:

he! !- 3 -+a,s %ea*h o!e !- 3 -+a,,4) are esse!t a,,4 a!- /ass o!ate,4re,ate- to a! -ea a!- to7ether are esse!t a,,4 re,ate- to the same -ea. there,at o! s o/t ma, a!- !ormat 3e1 %K er#e7aar- 5(6;2. &)

I! other wor-s. K er#e7aar-$s ow! a7e ! De!mar#=h s 9/rese!t a7e=

s rea*t 3e t s o3er 0o*+sse- o! re0,e*t o! as o//ose- to a*t o!1 A!!- 3 -+a,. 0or h m. 24 *o!trast. s tr+,4 a! !- 3 -+a, ! the 9re3o,+t o!ar4a7e. the a7e o0 /ass o!1 I! th s a7e. !- 3 -+a,s a*t. ! the ma!!er o0 asw mmer who - 3es !to the toss !7 wa3es1

These ,atter *,a ms 2ear o+t the o!to,o7 *a, - me!s o! o0K er#e7aar-$s tho+7ht here=the -ea that 9a!< et4 s a *ore e,eme!t o00ree-om1 I!-ee-. 0ree-om. he ar7+es ! The Co!*e/t o0 A!< et4 %see a7a !Ass ter &'5&) emer7es o+t o0 a !at+ra, wor,- that shares ma!4 0eat+res !*ommo! w th the wor,- that !*,+-es rat o!a, 2e !7s1

The Ethical

I0 th s s the *ase w th the 3ar o+s 0orms o0 2eha3 o+r o+t, !e- a2o3e.the! s t !ot the *ase that what K er#e7aar- *hara*ter ses as 9eth *a, 2eha3 o+r m 7ht es*a/e these , m tat o!s B+t the 9eth *a, has ts ow!, m tat o!s 0or h m1 It seems to me. as has o0te! 2ee! !ote-.; that t ss/e* 0 *a,,4 a # !- o0 Ka!t a! eth *s wh *h K er#e7aar- 2e, e3es s

, m te-1The a+to!omo+s !- 3 -+a, o0 Ka!t a! /ra*t *a, reaso! 0ree,4 *hoosesthe mora, ,aw he or she 0ree,4 *hooses to a*t we,,1 A+to!om4. 0or Ka!t. sso m/orta!t 2e*a+se t s !t mate,4 re,ate- to the esse!*e o0 a /erso!1 I!the Criti*ue of Practical 0eason %5(8 ). Ka!t *,a ms that. as rat o!a,a7e!ts. we s m/,4 are aware o0 the mora, ,aw1 O+r re,at o!sh / to themora, ,aw s a# ! to o+r , !# w th the ,aws o0 theoret *a, reaso! !71 +st asthe *o!*e/t o0 *a+se s o2 e*t 3e,4 3a, - ! the !at+ra, wor,-. so the /ra*t *a, ,aw a//, es ! the !te,, 7 2,e wor,-1 B+t. as se3era,

*omme!tators ha3e /o !te- o+t. th s ,ea3es a s 7! 0 *a!t - 00 *+,t4 0or Ka!t%Gree! 5((&. Kos*h &'' a!- Ass ter &'5&)1 How -oes Ka!t a**o+!t 0ormora, 9e3 ,. mora, wro!7-o !7


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I! The Concept of (nxiety %5(;'a) K er#e7aar- -e3e,o/s h s *r t ?+e o0He7e, a! a!- Ka!t a! eth *s as we,, as o00er !7 h s a**o+!t o0 the or 7 ! o0e3 ,1 Th s *r t ?+e *a! a,so 2e 0o+!- thro+7ho+t h s wor#s. /art *+,ar,4 !the /se+-o!4mo+s wor#s1 J+*h o0The Concept of (nxiety s a2o+t the*o!*e/t o0 s ! or e3 , s ! s !ot *o!str+e- here ! the wa4 ! wh *h t so0te! see! 24 Chr st a!s. as someth !7 w th wh *h we are 2or!1 I!-ee-. 0orK er#e7aar-. or at ,east 0or Ha+0! e!s s. 0 s ! s 3 ewe- ! th s 0ash o!the! t *eases to 2e someth !7 0or wh *h !- 3 -+a,s *a! 2e he,-res/o!s 2,e1 The wor# as a who,e s a res/o!se to Ka!t$s ,ate wor#

0eligion within the Limits of 4ere 0eason (lone ( a!- t s a2o+t ma# !7se!se o0 the *o!*e/t o0 e3 , %see Gree! 5((&)1 K er#e7aar- ar7+es. !TheConcept of (nxiety that the 9eth *a, sta!-/o !t. wh *h s *hara*ter se- asthe eth *s o0 9mo-er! /h ,oso/h4 s. ! Kos*h$s wor-s %&'' . 56') 9ato!e w th Gree# eth *s ! -e!4 !7 the - st !*t o! 2etwee! /ra*t *a, eth *sa!- the w ,, 1 Th s !*,+-es the Ka!t a! 3 ew o0 a+to!om4 a!- e3 ,1 I!The ic5ness 6nto Death, K er#e7aar- wr tes that these eth *a, 3 ews ,a*#9the *o+ra7e to -e*,are that a /erso! #!ow !7,4 -oes wro!7. #!ows what

s r 7ht a!- -oes the wro!7 %5(;'2. &'8)1The Concept of (nxiety . the!.o00ers a /s4*ho,o74 a!- a meta/h4s *s o0 the se,0 that sets o+t to a**o+!t0or the or 7 ! o0 e3 ,1 I! m4 3 ew. e3 , 9*omes !to A-am s+77est !7 thatA-am a,rea-4 e< ste-. ! a !at+ra, wor,- that *o!ta !e- e3e!ts a!- /owersa!- *a/a* t es. 2+t where A-am was !e ther 0ree !or !ot 0ree %see Ass ter.0orth*om !7 &'5&)1

I! h s wor#.The ic5ness 6nto Death . K er#e7aar- art *+,ates ! a- 00ere!t wa4 some o0 the , m tat o!s o0 the *o!*e/t o0 a+to!om41 The*hara*ter a!t C, ma*+s -es*r 2es the 9-es/a r o0 -e0 a!*e ! wh *h the

!- 3 -+a, attem/ts to 2e*ome master o0 h s ow! se,01 S+*h a se,0. hear7+es. s a*t+a,,4 !o se,0 at a,,: t s a 9# !7 w tho+t a *o+!tr4. a*t+a,,4r+, !7 o3er !oth !7> %5(;'2. ()1 A se,0 who attem/ts to e!7a7e !ra- *a, *ho *e. as the /+re,4 a+to!omo+s se,0 wo+,-. s !o se,0 at a,,1 It s ase,0 that s e00e*t 3e,4 /re3e!te- 0rom a*t !7 eth *a,,41 I! other wor-s.K er#e7aar- *o+,- 2e rea- as e


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8@ Cha/ter Three

0rom the mora, ,aw. or 0rom some tra!s*e!-e!t so+r*e o+ts -e the !at+ra, /he!ome!a, se,01

O!e *o!*e/t that s #e4 ! , 2era, /o, t *a, theor4. the!. o0 wh *hK er#e7aar- s *r t *a,. s a! o3er re, a!*e o! the *o!*e/t o0 a+to!om41Th s -oes !ot mea! that he -e! es the *o!*e/t e< sts1 That s !ot at a,, the*ase1 I!-ee-. 0ree-om s !e*essar4. he 2e, e3es. ! or-er 0or /eo/,e to a*tmora,,4 at a,,1 It s rather the o3er re, a!*e o! the *o!*e/t. a!- the mo-e,o0 the se,0 +!-er,4 !7 some e


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I! /ither- r . o!e /erso! 0 *at o! o0 the 9eth *a, s the 7oo- h+s2a!-he *hooses what he wa!ts to 2e a!- m/oses o! h mse,0 the - s* /, !e!e*essar4 to rea, se h s /ro e*ts1 I! some wa4. h s , 0e *o!s sts ! -o !7 h s-+t41 I! /ither- r . +-7e ,he,m$s e< ste!*e s -e0 !e- 24 0am ,4. wor#a!- ,o4a,t4 towar-s the State1 Th s *hara*ter sat o! has ,e- some to see theeth *a, ! K er#e7aar- as 2e !7 -e0 !e- 24 a-here!*e to e< st !7 so* a,!orms %see D+- a# &'';. 0or e


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8 Cha/ter Three

!ter or t4 s h 7her tha! e


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7e!erate- ,, 2e !71 There s !o -o+2t that th s Chr st a! se!se: 9,o3e 4o+r!e 7h2o+r as 4o+rse,0 !0,+e!*e- K er#e7aar-1 I! the &!- *e!t+r4.Tert+,, a! remar#e- how Chr st a! ,o3e ! th s se!se attra*te- /a7a!!ot *e1 hat attra*te- the r atte!t o! was the !ot o! o0 ,o3 !7 o!e$se!em es %Tert+,, a! &''@)1

As !- 3 -+a,s we *a! *hoose how we , 3e %see K er#e7aar- 5(;8a)1Th s *ho *e o0 how we , 3e remo3es +s. ! h s 3 ew. 0rom 9*rassmater a, sm % 2 -1 68)1 Ea*h o0 +s , 3es o+r , 0e. ! a!t * /at o! o0 oow! -eath. 2+t ea*h o0 +s s , 3 !7 th s wa4 ! re,at o! to others who , 3ethe same wa41 Th s /ro< m t4 to o+r -eath 2r !7s +s !to a re,at o! o0s4m/ath4 w th others1

O!,4 whe! the s4m/athet * /erso! ! h s *om/ass o! re,ates h mse,0 to thes+00erer ! s+*h a wa4 that he ! the str *test se!se +!-ersta!-s that t s h sow! *ase that s ! ?+est o! o!,4 whe! he #!ows how to -e!t 04 h mse,0w th the s+00erer ! s+*h a wa4 that whe! he 0 7hts 0or a! e


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8; Cha/ter Three

that

K er#e7aar-$s theor4 -oes !ot e3e! *,a m that a /erso! m+st 2e a the st !or-er to see mora, *,a ms> It s !ot *omm tte- to the m/,a+s 2,e *,a mthat a /erso! m+st 2e re, 7 o+s to re*o7! se the -ea,s o0 mora, t41%E3a!s &''@. &5)

Ne 7h2o+r,4 ,o3e s !ot o!,4 a2o+t ,o3 !7 a!other more tha! we ,o3e

o+rse,3es 0or he 2e, e3es that somet mes /eo/,e -o !ot ,o3e themse,3es !a 7oo- wa41

hoe3er has a!4 #!ow,e-7e o0 /eo/,e w ,, *erta !,4 a-m t that +st as hehas o0te! w she- to 2e a2,e to mo3e them to re, !?+ sh se,0 ,o3e. he hasa,so ha- to w sh that t were /oss 2,e to tea*h them to ,o3e themse,3es1%K er#e7aar- 5((8. & )

He o00ers e


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Lo3e 0or Ne 7h2o+rs 8(A, so! Ass ter

*,a ms o0 some *omme!tators who ?+est o! whether K er#e7aar-$stho+7ht *a! 2e o0 a!4 +se to !o! Chr st a!s %see 0or e


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' Cha/ter Three

For K er#e7aar-. ,o3 !7 a !e 7h2o+r !3o,3es 2e, e3 !7 what o!e*a!!ot th !#1 Ea*h o0 +s s a 0 ! te a!- , m te- 2e !71 The se!se ! wh *hwe are the !0 ! te ! the 0 ! te s that we *a! attem/t to 0o,,ow !orms thator 7 !ate o+ts -e ea*h o0 +s1 These !orms are !e3er 0+,,4 rea, sa2,e 24 +s = ! th s se!se the4 ma4 2e !0 ! te=2+t we *a! set o+t to 0o,,ow them1A2raham. ! Fear and Trem)ling . a,tho+7h he s a! e


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Notes

51 As the /art!er o0 a! e< ,e- Ira! a! who has see! ma!4 o0 h s *om/atr ots. 0am ,4a!- 0r e!-s # ,,e-. the ss+e s *,ose 0or me1 Perha/s there s a,so some , !#. 2+t amore te!+o+s o!e. w th the e3e!ts ! T a!a!me! S?+are1&1 I! th s se!se t was !-ee- m/orta!t,4 3er4 - 00ere!t 0rom the e3e!ts o0T a!a!me! S?+are1

1 I! m4 /a/er 9Ka!t a!- K er#e7aar- o! Free-om a!- E3 , %&'552) I ar7+e that

0ree-om ar ses ! A-am o+t o0 a /re e< st !7 !at+re that has /owers a!- *a/a* t esthat are - 00ere!t 2+t a,so a# ! to those /ossesse- 24 0 ! te a!- rat o!a, 2e !7s1 Th ss ! res/o!se to Ka!t. 0or whom t s m/oss 2,e to e


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& Cha/ter Three

(1 J *hae, Gree! ! h s 2oo# 8ier5egaard and 8ant: the ;idden De)t %5((&) has /o !te- o+t the stro!7 s m ,ar t es 2etwee! the two te


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CHAPTER FOUR

K IERKEGAARD S A ESTHETIC A GE AND ITS POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES

THOMAS W OLSTENHOLME

Introduction

That Kierke aar! !e"i#eate! three e$i%te#tia" "i&e'%t("e%) the ae%theti*)the ethi*a") a#! the re"i i+,%) i% a -e"" k#+-# te#et +& hi% .hi"+%+.h(/ 0 1,tthe i!ea that the%e e$i%te#tia" %.here% are i# a re"ati+# -ith e$ter#a"itie%%,*h a% .+"iti*a" *ha# e% i% +&te# #+t "++ke! i#t+/ I ar ,e here that the%.here% +& e$i%te#*e are i# &a*t i# "ar e .art re"ia#t ,.+# the %+*i+'.+"iti*a"e%ta2"i%h3e#t% +& a# a e/

A *+#%e4,e#*e +& thi% rea!i# i% that it i5e% ,% i#%i ht i#t+ -h(Kierke aar! 3a( ha5e *a""e! hi% 6+r a#(7 a e a# ae%theti* a e/ 8 The ,%e+& a# e$i%te#tia" ter3 &+r a# a e -+,"! +ther-i%e 2e %+3e-hat +& a

.e*,"iarit( i# the a,th+r%hi./1,t there are +ther *+#%e4,e#*e% +& thi% rea!i# / O#e i% that it i5e% ,%

3+re e5i!e#*e &+r %, e%ti# that Kierke aar! -a% #+t a 3ere%,29e*ti5i%t/ The e&&e*t% +#e% %,29e*ti5e e&&+rt% a"+#e *a# 2ri# a2+,t i#+#e% re"ati+# t+ a# e$i%te#tia" -a( +& "i&e are "i3ite!/ A *ha# e i# the+29e*ti5e) .+"iti*a" *+#!iti+#% 3a( &,#!a3e#ta""( a"ter the "i&e'5ie- +#e-a% %,29e*ti5e"( re"ati# t+) a#! thi% 3a( e5e# re4,ire that the %,29e*ti#%tea! .arti*i.ate i# .+"iti*a" a*ti+# i# +r!er t+ *+#ti#,e their e$i%te#tia"!e5e"+.3e#t/

The &i#a" *+#%e4,e#*e +& thi% rea!i# i% that -e 3a( ha5e r+,#!% &+rre9e*ti# .+"iti*a" *ha# e% -hi*h #e ati5e"( a&&e*t the e$i%te#tia"!e5e"+.3e#t +& the *iti:e#r( +& it% i#te#!e! .+"i*(/ P+"iti*a" e&&+rt% -hi*hhi#!er +#e% re"i i+,% !e5e"+.3e#t are) 2( t+!a(% "i2era" %ta#!ar!%) "ia2"et+ 2e re5i%e! +r re9e*te! +# the r+,#!% that the .+"iti*a" rea"3 a#! there"i i+,% %.a*e +& the i#!i5i!,a" are t+ 2e ke.t %e.arate/ I thi#kKierke aar!) th+, h 2( #+ 3ea#% a "i2era" 2( t+!a(% %ta#!ar!) -+,"! at"ea%t a ree -ith thi% *+#*",%i+#/


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Kierke aar!% Ae%theti* A e a#! it% P+"iti*a" C+#%e4,e#*e% ; Th+3a% W+"%te#h+"3e

i#!i5i!,a" &r+3 attai#i# ethi*a" a#! re"i i+,% !e5e"+.3e#t/ F+r it #e "e*t%&eat,re% +& ethi*+'re"i i+,% !e5e"+.3e#t that Kierke aar! th+, ht#e*e%%ar( the i#!i5i!,a"% .er%+#a") %,29e*ti5e) a#! .a%%i+#atea..r+.riati+# +& the "i&e'5ie-/ Gi5e# Kierke aar!% i#%i%te#*e +# the%e"atter 4,a"itie% -e 3a( a%k a ai# -hat %e#%e !+e% it 3ake i# *a""i# a#age ae%theti*

Perha.% a# a e could 2e *a""e! ae%theti* .re*i%e"( 2e*a,%e the .re5a"e#t .ra*ti*e% a#! i!e+"+ ( +& that a e are 3arke! 2( the %a3e e"e3e#t% +& theae%theti* -a( +& "i&e i/e/) a !i%.a%%i+#ate -i""i# #e%% t+ + a"+# -ith the%tat,% 4,+) *+,."e! -ith a# a2%+",te a5er%i+# t+ the ki#! +& .er%+#a"*h+i*e re4,ire! t+ "ea! +#e i#t+ the ethi*a" +r re"i i+,% -a(% +& "i&e/ U#!er%,*h a# i#ter.retati+#) Kierke aar! *+,"! %ti"" 3ai#tai# it i% i3.+%%i2"e &+ra# a e t+ 2e a# ethi*a" a e) +r a re"i i+,% a e) 6&+r #+ i!e+"+ i*a" 5ie-+r *,"t,ra" .ra*ti*e *+,"! 2e %,*h that it "ea!% the i#!i5i!,a" i#t+ theethi*a" +r re"i i+,% -a( +& "i&e) i5e# the re4,ire3e#t% +& .er%+#a")%,29e*ti5e a..r+.riati+#) ,#i4,e t+ the%e "atter t-+ e$i%te#tia" %.here%7)th+, h there -+,"! #+t 2e a#(thi# i#*+#%i%te#t i# *a""i# a# a eae%theti*/ There&+re) Kierke aar! *+,"! %ti"" !ee3 it i3.+%%i2"e &+r a#a e t+ !e5e"+.) &+r a# a e *+,"! 2e ae%theti* 2,t *+,"! #e5er + +# t+ 2eethi*a" +r re"i i+,%/

1,t thi% rea!i# i% .r+2"e3ati* &+r t-+ rea%+#%/ The &ir%t i% that %,re"(a# a e could 2e a# ae%theti* a e) a% Kierke aar! %tate! that hi% -a%/ 1,ti& the *"ai3 that a i5e# a e i% ae%theti* i% t+ 2e 3ea#i# &," the# a#( i5e#a e a"%+ 3i ht not 2e ae%theti*/ Let ,% a%%,3e that the !e&a,"t .+%iti+# +&a# a e i%) a% i% the *a%e -ith i#!i5i!,a"%) ae%theti*/ I& the a e *a# #+t!e5e"+. 2e(+#! thi% the# Kierke aar!% e$.re%%i+# +& hi% +-# a e a%

2ei# a# ae%theti* a e -+,"! a..ear t+ 2e a# a"t+ ether 5a*,+,%*+33e#t %+ i% e5er( +ther a e Pre%,3a2"() the#) a# a e 3i ht #+t 2eae%theti*? a#! .re%,3a2"( a #+#'ae%theti* a e i% a !e5e"+.3e#t t+ a#ae%theti* a e/

Pre%,3.ti+#% a%i!e) the %e*+#! .r+2"e3 -ith the a2+5e rea!i# i% thatit a..ear% t+ +5er"++k a ke( Kierke aar!ia# the3e) #a3e"( that +& thea2%+",te .ri+rit( +& the individual t+ a"" +ther *ate +rie%/< T+ *a"" a# a eae%theti* *+,"! %,re"( #+t 3ea# that e5er( i#!i5i!,a" i# that a e i% a#ae%thete) +r e5e# that the 3a9+rit( are/ S,*h a e#era"i%ati+# -+,"! 2e a

!i%re ar! +& the ,#i4,e !e5e"+.3e#t +& e5er( i#!i5i!,a" i# that a e) a#!thi% i% *hara*teri%ti*a""( #+t Kierke aar!ia#/ 1e%i!e%) -h+"ehearte!e# a e3e#t i# the e%ta2"i%he! *,"t,ra" #+r3% *+,"! #+t *+,#t a%


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;; Cha.ter F+,r

irre&,ta2"e e5i!e#*e that %,*h a .er%+# i% there&+re a# ae%thete) i5e# thatthe 2,%t"i# ta$ *+""e*t+r -h+ ha% rea*he! the hi he%t %tate +& re"i i+,%!e5e"+.3e#t *+,"! 2e) &r+3 the .er%.e*ti5e +& +,t-ar! 2eha5i+,r%)e$a*t"( the %a3e/

Ar ,a2"() it i% i#-ar!#e%% a"+#e that %e.arate% the "i&e'5ie-%) a#! %+ I!+,2t that a#( !ia #+%i% +& the e$i%te#tia" %tate +& i#!i5i!,a"% -hi*h i%

2a%e! +# +,t-ar! a..eara#*e% -+,"! 2e 3a!e 2( Kierke aar!/ Whe#Kierke aar! *a""% a# a e ae%theti* the#) I take it that he 3,%t 3ea#%i3."( thi% the *+#!iti+#% +& the a e are %,*h that it te#!% t+6i#a!5erte#t"( +r #+t7 &+%ter the ae%theti* e$i%te#tia" "i&e'5ie-) +r %h,#tthe +ther .+%%i2"e "i&e'5ie-%) .erha.% %i3."( 2( re3+5i# ) +r 3aki#3+re !i&&i*,"t) the #e*e%%ar( *+#!iti+#% &+r the%e "atter t-+ "i&e'5ie-%/

1,t -hat rea%+#% ha5e +ther Kierke aar! %*h+"ar% i5e# &+r %, e%ti#that a# a e 3a( 2e ae%theti* A 3i$e! a#! i#tere%ti# arra( +&%, e%ti+#% ha5e 2ee# 3a!e) -hi*h are #+t #e*e%%ari"( e$*",%i5e/ O#e-a( 3a( 2e 2( %h+-i# that the %,..+%e! ethi*a" a#! re"i i+,% .ra*ti*e%are i# &a*t %i3."( &,rther 3a#i&e%tati+#% +& ae%theti* 5a",e%/ Perki#% take%thi% "i#e a#! *+#*",!e% hi% .ie*e 2( ar ,i# that i# Kierke aar!% a e)ae%theti*i%3 tri,3.h% i# Chri%te#!+3 6Perki#% 8 =) B0>7/ I# the %a3e5+",3e) Da"r(3."e 2a*k% thi% rea!i# ,. 2( %h+-i# h+- -i!e%.rea! a#!%,..+%e!"( ethi*+'re"i i+,% %er3+#% a#! art-+rk% +# the %,&&eri# % +&Chri%t -ere a"%+ ,%e! t+ .r+5+ke ae%theti*) #+t re"i i+,%) %e#ti3e#t%6Da"r(3."e 8 =) %ee e%.e*ia""( 0;=) 0=B7/

I# a#+ther -+rk) Perki#% e$te#!% Kierke aar!% *riti*i%3 +& theae%theti*i%3 i#here#t i# Chri%te#!+3) t+ the ae%theti*i%3 i#here#t i# the3+!er# a e) a# a e +& -i!e%.rea! 3+!er# he!+#i%3 6Perki#% 0===)

0@>7/ The *har e here i% that the ae%theti* -a( +& "i&e i% a 3+!er# .he#+3e#+#/ The *riti*i%3% +& the ae%theti* -a( +& "i&e are i# .art*riti*i%3% +& a !i%ti#*ti5e &eat,re +& 3+!er#it( 6i2i!/) 0@07/

Ta9a&,er*e 60===) ;=7 i5e% a %i3i"ar rea!i# ) *"ai3i# thatKierke aar!% atta*k +& hi% a e *+,"! 2e .re%e#te! i# ae%theti*'"iterar(ter3% a ai#%t the ae%theti* %tat,% 4,+/ 1( thi% it i% 3ea#t t+ 2e a#atta*k

///a ai#%t ae%theti* *+#5e#ti+#a"i%3 a#! i#!i&&ere#ti%3) ,#!er%t++! 2+th a%

the .ara!i 3ati* e$.re%%i+# +& a.atheti* i#!+"e#*e a#! a% %ta #ati+#%ti"%ta#!e# i# re&"e*ti+#/ It i% !ire*te! a ai#%t ae%theti* h+""+-#e%%) -hi*h


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Kierke aar!% Ae%theti* A e a#! it% P+"iti*a" C+#%e4,e#*e% ;@ Th+3a% W+"%te#h+"3e

e5e#t,a""( t,r#% i#t+ the *e"e2rate! .atter# +& a# a2%tra*t a#(thi# ' +e%///6i2i!/7

Fi#a""() Ge+r e Patti%+# thi#k% that the .r+2"e3 "ie% i# the &a*tKierke aar!% Da#i%h *+#te3.+rarie% .ra*ti%e! a .hi"+%+.h( thata%%i3i"ate! 2+th the ae%theti* a#! the .+"iti*a") 3i$i# the t-+ *ate +rie%i#!i%ti# ,i%ha2"( t+ ether/ F+r Patti%+#) thi% "ea!% t+ .a5i#

the -a( &+r the ki#! +& tra#%&er +& ae%theti* *ate +rie% i#t+ %+*ia" a#! .+"iti*a" *ate +rie% that -e &i#! a ai# i# Kierke aar!) 2+th i# the Literar(Re5ie- a#!) e/ /) i# The P+i#t +& Jie-/ 6Patti%+# 0===2) 0;7 ;

I# a -+rk +& the %a3e (ear 60===a) 0@7 Patti%+# *+rre*t"( re3ark% thatKierke aar!% !e%i #ati+# +& hi% a e a% a# ae%theti* +#e i% a %tr+# *"ai3a#! i% #+t i33e!iate"( +r a!e4,ate"( 9,%ti&ie! i# it% *+#te$t i# The P+i#t +&Jie-/ I#%tea!) Patti%+# %, e%t% that a rea!i# a*r+%% a"" +&Kierke aar!% -+rk% i% #e*e%%ar( t+ 5a"i!ate thi% *"ai3/ I# hi% i#&+r3ati5e%t,!() Poor Paris! Patti%+# %eek% t+ %h+- that it i%

the representation of the city a% a# ae%theti* .he#+3e#+# thr+, hKierke aar!% e#tire a,th+r%hi.) that ,#!er-rite% Kierke aar!% *"ai3 thatit i% the a e a% a -h+"e 6a#! #+t 9,%t a ra#!+3 %a3."e +& !e*a!e#ti#!i5i!,a"%7 that i% ae%theti*/ 6i2i!/) 0>? e3.ha%i% 3i#e7

Patti%+#% %t,!( i% 2+th i3.re%%i5e a#! e$te#%i5e/I %ha"" a"%+ ar ,e that that Kierke aar! *riti*i%e! hi% a e &+r 2ei# a% a#

ae%theti* +#e/@ 1,t I take the 9,%ti&i*ati+# +& thi% *"ai3 t+ 2e a "itt"e

%i3."er/ A% I %ee it) -e +#"( rea""( ha5e t+ "++k i# one +& Kierke aar!%-+rk%) T o ges" Literary Revie 60=@>27) t+ %ee -h( he 3i ht *+3et+ 4,a"i&( hi% a e a% ae%theti*/ F+r i# that 2++k Kierke aar! %et% +,t t+ !+e$a*t"( -hat I -+,"! ha5e th+, ht -a% #e*e%%ar( t+ 4,a"i&( a# a e a%ae%theti*/ Kierke aar! a%%e%%e% the 5ari+,% .ra*ti*e% that the .re%e#ta e e# a e% i# a#! a#a"(%e% the i3.a*t the( ha5e +# i#-ar!#e%%/ D+i#%+ hi h"i ht% the -a(% that the%e .ra*ti*e% a&&e*t the *+#!iti+#% re4,ire!&+r the ethi*a" a#! re"i i+,% "i&e'5ie-% .a%%i+#) i#!i5i!,a"it() .er%+#a"%.a*e t+ re"ate t+ G+! a#! t+ +ther%) a#! %+ &+rth/ The +,t*+3e i% that the

.re%e#t a e i#a!5erte#t"( &a5+,r% the ae%theti* -a( +& "i&e a#! 3ake%3+re !e3a#!i# ) .erha.% e5e# i3.+%%i2"e) the ethi*a" a#! re"i i+,% -a(%+& "i&e/


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;> Cha.ter F+,r

A 3+!er# %*h+"ar 3a( here %ee t-+ !ire*t i#&ri# e3e#t% +& "i2era" .+"iti*% 07 the %tate +, ht t+ 2e neutral t+-ar!% i#!i5i!,a" atte3.t% at the

++! "i&e a#! 87 the %tate +, ht #+t t+ i#ter&ere -ith the i#!i5i!,a"%&ree!+3 t+ .,r%,e re"i i+,% !e5e"+.3e#t) %+ "+# a% that re"i i+,%!e5e"+.3e#t !+e% #+t it%e"& 5i+"ate %tate "a-%/ Whi"%t Kierke aar! 3a(ha5e ha! rather .re%*ie#t &+re2+!i# % +& the .r+2"e3% that 3a( +**,r i&the%e "i2era" .ri#*i."e% -ere 5i+"ate!) it -+,"! 2e a#a*hr+#i%ti* t+ attri2,tethe%e 3+!er# "i2era" i!ea% t+ Kierke aar!/ Th,%) -hether +r #+tKierke aar! -+,"! ha5e %,..+rte! a#( .+"iti*a" a*ti+# t+ re3e!( the ai"%+& the .re%e#t a e %ha"" a"%+ 2e a%%e%%e!/

The present age

Th,% &ar the ter3 .re%e#t a e ha% 2ee# i5e# i# i#5erte! *+33a%/Thi% i% 2e*a,%e Kierke aar! +**a%i+#a""( ,%e! the ter3 t+ %i3."( re&er t+hi% a e) i/e/ the ti3e .eri+! a#! ."a*e he "i5e! a#! -r+te i# 0= th *e#t,r(De#3ark/ I# %+3e -a(% thi% i% a &ar *r( &r+3 the .re%e#t .re%e#t a e/1,t i# hi% 2++k T o ges" Literary Revie ) Kierke aar! a"%+ ,%e% the.re%e#t a e a% a .,re"( .hi"+%+.hi*a" a#! #+t a# e3.iri*a" *+#*e.t/ F+re$a3."e) Kierke aar! %a(% that he -i%he% t+ e# a e i#

///a# a#a"(%i% +& the .re%e#t a e i# ter3% +& the !ia"e*ti*a" *ate +r('4,a"i&i*ati+#% "e5e""i# ) the .,2"i*) et*/ a#! their i3."i*ati+#%)regardless of their #eing factually present at the given moment or not / 60=@>2) @;? 3( e3.ha%i%/ See =; &+r a 5er( %i3i"ar *+33e#t7

Kierke aar!% ta%k i%) I take it) t-+&+"!/ He *ertai#"( -i%he% t+ !e"i#eatethe !i%ti#*ti5e *hara*teri%ti*% +& the a e a#! t+ e5a",ate 6a"th+, h) #+t

9,! e7 the3 6i2i!/) B8) 00 7/ A reat !ea" +& e$*e""e#t %*h+"ar%hi. ha% 2ee#&+*,%%e! i# thi% area) i# !e"i#eati# the 5ari+,% *+3."e$ !ia"e*ti*a"*ate +r('4,a"i&i*ati+#% Kierke aar! attri2,te% t+ the .re%e#t a e/ 1,t the+ther a%.e*t +& Kierke aar!% .r+9e*t i% t+ ,#!ertake a %i3i"ar e$er*i%e thatFr, G(""e32+,r ha! i# the +ri i#a" #+5e") To Tidsaldre T o ges ) here,#!er re5ie-/ Where G(""e32+,r .+rtra(e! the e&&e*t% the !i&&eri# a e%

ha5e +# the &a3i"ia" "i&e a#! %+*ia" re"ati+#% +& the *hara*ter% +& the #+5e"Kierke aar! -i%he% t+ a#a"(%e h+- the a e a&&e*t% the t(.i*a" i#!i5i!,a"/


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Kierke aar!% Ae%theti* A e a#! it% P+"iti*a" C+#%e4,e#*e% ;= Th+3a% W+"%te#h+"3e

Kierke aar! !+e% #+t i3."( that a# a e -i"" #e*e%%ari"( "ea! t+ a *ertai#ki#! +& i#!i5i!,a"/ Thi% &

kierkegaard and the political

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