Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses

by Søren Kierkegaard, Edna Hatlestad Hong, Howard Vincent Hong

There is much to be learned philosophically from this volume, but philosophical instruction was not Kierkegaard's aim here, except in the broad sense of self-knowledge and deepened awareness. Indicating the intention of the discourses, the titles include "The Expectancy of Faith," "Love Will Hide a Multitude of Sins," "Strengthening in the Inner Being," "To Gain One's Soul in Patience," "Patience in Expectancy," and "Against Cowardliness."


In tone and substance these works are in accord with the concluding words of encouragement in Either/Or , which was paired with the first volume of "Ask yourself and keep on asking until you find the answer, for one may have known something many times, acknowledged it; one may have willed something many times, attempted it--and yet, only the deep inner motion, only the heart's indescribable emotion, only that will convince you that what you have acknowledged belongs to you, that no power can take it from you--for only the truth that builds up is truth for you."

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Religion, Christianity, Christian, Classics, Nonfiction

581 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1844

About the author

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a prolific 19th century Danish philosopher and theologian. Kierkegaard strongly criticised both the Hegelianism of his time and what he saw as the empty formalities of the Church of Denmark. Much of his work deals with religious themes such as faith in God, the institution of the Christian Church, Christian ethics and theology, and the emotions and feelings of individuals when faced with life choices. His early work was written under various pseudonyms who present their own distinctive viewpoints in a complex dialogue.

Kierkegaard left the task of discovering the meaning of his works to the reader, because "the task must be made difficult, for only the difficult inspires the noble-hearted". Scholars have interpreted Kierkegaard variously as an existentialist, neo-orthodoxist, postmodernist, humanist, and individualist.

Crossing the boundaries of philosophy, theology, psychology, and literature, he is an influential figure in contemporary thought.

Reviews

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

They weren't kidding when they put "Upbuilding" in the title. I feel new neurological connections form as I read Kierkegaard's words.

[John Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of Kierkegaard's self-signed books, which basically means that it's straight-forward and more devotional than creatively philosophical like his pseudonym writings. And if you know what's good for you then you'll read this book. Eighteen individual discourses, all based in Scripture, that will convince you by conviction to lead a more God-focused life. Think you're already doing that? Think again.

There's really nothing else to say here about this one. It's Kierkegaard. The guy is great, his writings are greater. Read.

[Darrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Kierkegaard, okay? Is that really such a problem?

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting set of reflections from this evangelical Protestant Existentialist philosopher. A rare combination of deep theology with absorbing and careful Scriptural hermeneutics. Especially insightful discourses on the Book of Job and the mystery of human suffering and God's eternal sovereignty.

[Augustus]

DNF

[I-kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I just couldn't quite get engaged. It's beautiful writing nevertheless. Some discourses I particularly enjoyed with short comments: the first discourse of "Love Will Hide a Multitude of Sins" (there is a beautiful phenomenological description of love); "The Lord Gave, and the Lord Took Away; Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" reflects on Job as the teacher who does not impart doctrines but "lives out his teaching," very useful for thinking about the role of role models in education; "Patience in Expectancy" among the discourses on patience, this one struck me as most lively and persuasive.

Two other discourses that might be of particular interest: "Think about Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth" speaks of "concerned truths" in the beginning, which seems like the precursor of "subjective truths" that is discussed in the Postscript; "Against Cowardliness" has a discussion of resolution that should be extremely interesting to compare with Heidegger's account of Erschlossenheit.

Kierkegaard is a psychologist in the highest sense of the word, it seems to me. And his strength comes out in this book in particular when he discusses phenomena of self-deception. For example someone who gives excuses, pretends to be resolute, but is in fact avoiding actually making a choice or commitment; or someone who is not patient but can nevertheless have the appearance of being so; or how "worldly wisdom" or sagacity, as it is translated in the book, becomes seductive traps on one's way towards having faith in god...he's deep in three ways: first, he avoids any general theory of self-deception; second, he is relentless in forcing the cunningness of self-deception to appear in all its varieties by sticking to the phenomena (true phenomenology); and third, he relates self-deception to the highest theme of philosophy: self-knowledge or becoming oneself.