Selections from the Writings of Kierkegaard

What It's About

This anthology introduced English-speaking readers to the Danish philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855). It follows his thought across five selections. It opens with the Diapsalmata, a set of aphorisms voicing the restless mood of the aesthetic life. It continues with In Vino Veritas, a banquet in which a group of men give speeches on love and women. Fear and Trembling then examines Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, and Preparation for a Christian Life turns to what it means to actually live as a Christian. The book closes with The Present Moment, Kierkegaard's late, fierce polemic against the established Church of Denmark, a stance that was highly controversial in his day.

Key Concepts

The selections illustrate the central themes of Kierkegaard's thought: the single individual standing alone before God, faith as a leap that reason cannot justify, and the gulf between the aesthetic, ethical and religious ways of life. Much of his best-known work appeared under invented pseudonyms, each voicing a different outlook, so the early pieces here are not simply his own opinions. Because this is a selection, it works best as an introduction to his range rather than a substitute for the complete works.

About the Author

Lee M. Hollander (1880–1972) was an American scholar of Germanic and Scandinavian languages. Born in Baltimore and partly educated in Germany, he spent most of his academic career as a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and he was widely known as a translator from the Scandinavian languages.

About This Edition

This is a 1923 translation by Lee M. Hollander.