Either/or, Volume 1 "Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, is a major influence in contemporary existentialist philosophy. In his work he dealt with three levels of existence -- the aesthetic, ethical and religious -- and the first two of these were his primary concern in this first great work. It appears pseudonymously, purporting to contain the papers of two men. One is a young man who, in his aphorisms, essays, lyrical outbursts and the famous "Diary of a seducer", brilliantly presents the pleasures of aesthetic life. The other is an older man, who writes letters discussing marriage and selfhood in which he tries to convince his young friend of the superiority of the ethical life. Kierkegaard indicates no choice between the two views; the reader is left to make his own decision" [Back cover] |
