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justycrusty's review against another edition
3.5
Interesting takes.
Did not understand everything, so should read again.
Did not understand everything, so should read again.
theaurochs's review against another edition
1.0
There may well be some very salient points in this book, but I felt constantly like I was sifting through an unrelated wordsearch to find them. To me it was, unfortunately, quite impenetrable.
Here's a random paragraph for example:
"It must be possible to find out the forms of despair by reflecting on the factors which constitute the self as a synthesis. The self is made up of infinitude and finitude. But this synthesis is a relation, and a relation which, though derived, relates to itself, which is freedom. But freedom is the dialectical element in the categories of possibility and necessity."
Maybe a more extensive background reading is required to appreciate this work, but I would certainly not recommend it to newcomers or those casually interested in philosophy.
Here's a random paragraph for example:
"It must be possible to find out the forms of despair by reflecting on the factors which constitute the self as a synthesis. The self is made up of infinitude and finitude. But this synthesis is a relation, and a relation which, though derived, relates to itself, which is freedom. But freedom is the dialectical element in the categories of possibility and necessity."
Maybe a more extensive background reading is required to appreciate this work, but I would certainly not recommend it to newcomers or those casually interested in philosophy.
galatee's review against another edition
5.0
un ouvrage digne d'intérêt qui "se lit tout seul", une réflexion pertinente bien que quelque peu limitée par l'adoption d'un point de vue chrétien qui ne comprend l'espoir qu'en termes de foi religieuse. si le livre second (portant sur le péché) m'a un peu moins intéressée, le premier, qui porte sur les différents types de désespoir, son universalité, sa dialectique essentielle dans ce rapport à la mort comme à la vie, fut tout simplement passionnant.
« Le rare ce n'est pas d'être désespéré, au contraire, le rare, le rarissime, c'est vraiment de ne pas l'être. »
« Le rare ce n'est pas d'être désespéré, au contraire, le rare, le rarissime, c'est vraiment de ne pas l'être. »
paigewetzel's review
5.0
Although our class in Kierkegaard ended on a rather down note with this book, I really enjoyed it. It was especially helpful to have read The Concept of Anxiety before this. The two are paired together excellently in Kierkegaard's description of anxiety and despair. It seems that a thorough understanding of the two (similarities and differences) help paint a good picture of Kierkegaard's human. Overall, I found this work far more accessible than The Concept of Anxiety, which was a relief. I imagine I've only skimmed the surface of what can be gleaned from this work and it is certainly one to which I will return.
pivic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
iparakati's review
5.0
This book was interesting. I finished it in one go. In plain terms, the book claims despair stems from the desire to not accept oneself. The cure then for despair is to accept oneself. Furthermore, within Christianity, sin is despair and willing to be oneself is faith. Kierkegaard presents the opposite of sin as faith, not virtue.
About the book's structure, there are many descriptions of the types of despair and what is the self. It's hard to read in the beginning but the argument flows once you understand Kierkegaard's terms.
#Christian Existentialism
About the book's structure, there are many descriptions of the types of despair and what is the self. It's hard to read in the beginning but the argument flows once you understand Kierkegaard's terms.
#Christian Existentialism
verw0rren's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
4.0
Kierkegaards Schreibstil ist interessant und, meines Erachtens, angenehm zu lesen, sodass er seine Positionen anschaulich zur Geltung bringen kann.
Der zweite Abschnitt hat mir aufgrund von inhaltlich mangelnder Kohärenz weniger gefallen, doch als Ganzes ein gelungenes Werk.
Der zweite Abschnitt hat mir aufgrund von inhaltlich mangelnder Kohärenz weniger gefallen, doch als Ganzes ein gelungenes Werk.