Last Years: Journals, 1853-55

by Søren Kierkegaard

Translated by R.S. Smith

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1968

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

[Contemporáneos de Cristo · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this translation of the journals is excelsus, very fluent and natural, which is necessary to read Kierkegaard's thought. This book compiles the last 3 years of Kierkegaard's private journals so one can be sure this is the most mature thinking of the Danish Philosopher. The journals are in the same way exciting and exhausting, I personally felt overwhelmed by certain passages when Kierkegaard talks too deep for the average modern citizen, and I'm talking about the realization that one is trapped in a circus and that the very few who tell us the truth are seen like clowns.

I give it 5/5 because as I said, if you want to go to the abyss of Kierkegaardian thought, this book must be on your bookshelf. Take it easy and don't read it like your fancy best-seller author, read it as it must be read the intimate sufferings and hopes of a human being. This book is fire on the right hands.