Either/Or: A Fragment of Life (Penguin Classics)

published	December 1st 1992 by Penguin Classics
binding	Paperback
isbn	0140445773 (isbn13: 9780140445770)
ebook
pages	640
description	Published in two volumes in 1843, Either/Or (original Danish title: Enten-Eller) is an influential book written by the Danish philosopher Søren Kierk...more [close] Published in two volumes in 1843, Either/Or (original Danish title: Enten-Eller) is an influential book written by the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, exploring the aesthetic and ethical "phases" or "stages" of existence. Either/Or portrays two life views, one consciously hedonistic, the other based on ethical duty and responsibility. Each life view is written and represented by a fictional pseudonymous author, the prose of the work depending on the life view being discussed. For example, the aesthetic life view is written in short essay form, with poetic imagery and allusions, discussing aesthetic topics such as music, seduction, drama, and beauty. The ethical life view is written as two long letters, with a more argumentative and restrained prose, discussing moral responsibility, critical reflection, and marriage. The views of the book are not neatly summarized, but are expressed as lived experiences embodied by the pseudonymous authors. The book's central concern is the primal question asked by Aristotle, "How should we live?" [close]
date added	12-30-06 edit book

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Birdlashes rated it:

01/03/08

Read in January, 2008

“Either/Or” is an early work from Kierkegaard and an elaborate fiction. The book is presented as having been edited by “Victor Emerita,” who claims, in a humorous prologue, to have found the manuscript in a second hand escritoire. The manuscript is divided into two sections. Part One is the writings of “A,” an aesthete, and part two is by “Judge Vilhelm” who argues with A on the side of an “ethical” life, rather than an “aesthetic” life. The most famous part of “Eit...more “Either/Or” is an early work from Kierkegaard and an elaborate fiction. The book is presented as having been edited by “Victor Emerita,” who claims, in a humorous prologue, to have found the manuscript in a second hand escritoire. The manuscript is divided into two sections. Part One is the writings of “A,” an aesthete, and part two is by “Judge Vilhelm” who argues with A on the side of an “ethical” life, rather than an “aesthetic” life. The most famous part of “Either/Or” is a section of part one called “The Seducer’s Diary” which Victor Emerita suspects is written by a third party altogether, named “Johannes”. The essays in part one are generally about famous literary seducers or the women they have seduced, though they primarily concern the aesthetic life—which seems to often mean pleasure (or interest) over boredom. “A” presents his points through aphorisms and literary and musical criticism (some, in essays to a group he calls the “Symparanekromenoi” or the “fellowship of the dead”). The Judge, meanwhile, seems to write directly to “A,” almost harranging him about his life’s choices and presenting the “ethical” alternative (such as the clarity of married life over a life of seducing women). The reader is to decide between these two modes of life—the aesthetic or the ethical.

“The Seducer’s Diary” is a long section that ends “Either” and is, as it sounds, the entries of a diary kept by a man who first spots then seduces a beautiful young woman named Cordelia. As suspected, once the diarist gets what he’s wanted from Cordelia, he unceremoniously discards her. Kierkegaard does not spare any voyeuristic detail as the diarist spies out where Cordelia lives, peeks into her room through her windows, figures out her habits, insinuates himself into her social circle, manipulates her friends and family to do his ultimate bidding, then ruins her. The fame of the Seducer’s Diary is justified, and is easily the best part of “Either/Or” to read—though I read it almost as its own novella, rather than thinking about how its themes relate to the larger issues of the total work.

Would I recommend?

Yes! But, maybe not to place at the top of your reading lists. “Either/Or” is a huge work—two volumes if unabridged, or one thick volume if you read the same edition I did—and there are other, more powerful, works of philosophy to read first if you’re jonesing for that kind of thing. I think I arrived at “Either/Or” about fifteen years too late, really. It was entertaining, but this is the kind of book high school kids should read then debate with their friends over pizza.
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matt rated it:

02/17/08

bookshelves: existentialism, shaggy-monsters, wisdom--philosophical-investigatons, worldly-lit

Read in September, 2002

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

"Should I get married, should I be good? Astound the girl next door with my velvet suit and Faustus hood? Not take her to movies, but to cemetaries..."
- Gregory Corso

This is heartfelt, probing thinking which everyone goes through at one time or another. Whether its better to settle down and get married or to try and live zestfully as a single person.

Not to mention all the attendant indentity, Being, subjective/objective issues that accrue when you sit down and think abo...more

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Michael rated it:

08/13/07

Read in August, 2007

Either/or is discredited by its principle reliance on the necessity to choose between an aesthetic or ethical life. Kierkegaard makes the point that we have to choose between these if we want to have purpose to life because of the inherent contradiction between the two. However this choice seems arbitrary and unnatural. Even if necessary (which I doubt it is), why propose a philosophy that's impossible for a vast majority of people to apply?

While the logic is pretty shady for a work ...more

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Seri rated it:

10/04/07

bookshelves: booksireadin2006

Read in November, 2006

recommends it for: artists, seducers, judges

Even if you are not interested in philosophy, this book is great to read just for its literary style. Kierkegaard speaks through a pseudonymous editor, who has compiled the diary of an aesthete who is also a seducer of young girls. Warning the aesthete is a judge who pleads with him to choose an ethical life over his aesthetic gallavanting lifestyle.

Kierkegaard is not only a great philosopher, but also a great writer. This is his first work and also the best introduction to his later philoso...more

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Beriah rated it:

08/01/08

As always Soren leaves us to think for ourselves as he uses characters to buffer between him and his reader. "A" the lover provides one possible perspective, and "B" or the judge, provides the opposite perspective. Wait, two opposites leaving us dissatisfied and wanting a third, could this be a dialectic? If the third option is different for everyone Soren did us a great service in not spoon feeding us a pat answer.

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Nasheed rated it:

07/17/07

Read in November, 2002

read this book in on of my favorite courses in all of my undergraduate tour - Freshman Writing Seminar - Existentialism. This is the only one I really enjoyed reading and remember enough to still discuss now. He's hilarious/ridiculous/awesome.

p.s. my favorite courses in college were Existentialism, Orgo, and Constitutional Law. how was I supposed to figure out what to major in based on THAT?!

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AJ rated it:

09/09/07

This is one of those books that you read that covers a bunch of things you had been thinking about on your own, at which point you realize "oh: i'm not really that smart, am I?"

But as a general rule, I like anyone who agrees with me, and I like the way Kerigaodigjadkfaodfkadsdfnsldfkasdfnlaskdn (sp?) writes. 4 stars from me.

also a very very good album, but that's a different deal.

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Gabriel rated it:

08/01/08

The first volume started me on the road to philosophy, the second volume then read close to a decade later, and a tedious harangue concerning the wonders of marriage.

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harris rated it:

03/16/07

Read in January, 2007

recommends it for: brave souls

Dense. Not as engaging as "fear and trembling"--but not bad. I enjoyed the duality he sets up. Long read, still trudging through it when I get the chance.

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Tomw added it

06/30/08

bookshelves: i-have-read-this

This was recommended by our hospital chaplain. It is literary in form, but metaphysical in content. Highly

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K8teebug rated it:

03/06/08

bookshelves: philosophy

Read in January, 1999

I only give this two stars because this book royally fucked me over once. Otherwise, it's good.

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Melita added it

10/13/07

Read in April, 2007

This is where I fall deeply in love with Oom Soren.
Nice one.

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matthew rated it:

11/30/07

elliott smith title coincidence? i think it not so.

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Niki rated it:

12/08/07

Read in April, 2006

torturously great for the indecisive

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Randy added it

01/07/08

I learned that Soren needs prozac.

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Stephanie rated it:

02/05/08

bookshelves: religion

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avg rating (all editions): 4.17 (256 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.16 (253 ratings)
number of reviews: 17

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Either/Or: A Fragment of Life (Penguin Classics)

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