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

Description

The various kinds and conditions of love are a common theme for Kierkegaard, beginning with his early "Either/Or" throught to "The Diary of the Seducer" and Judge William's eulogy on married love, to his last work, in the changelessness of God's love. "Works of Love", the midpoint in the series, is also a high point, because of its penetrating, illuminating analysis of the forms and sources of love. Love as a 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 centre of awakened understanding and as the initiator of action.

Howard V. Hong, the former Director of the Howard and Edna Hong Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf College, is the General Editor of Kierkegaard's Writings. Edna H. Hong is a poet, writer, and translator who has collaborated with Professor Hong on other English translations of Kierkegaard's works.

"The definitive edition of the Writings. The first volume ... indicates the scholarly value of the entire series: an introduction setting the work in the context of Kierkegaard's development; a remarkably clear translation; and concluding sections of intelligent notes."--Library Journal