"The Sickness Unto Death" by Søren Kierkegaard

[Nemo]

The Sickness Unto Death is a great book, but I've been having difficulties writing decent reviews, so I'm experimenting with a new approach and using this topic as a sounding board.

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

What Is Despair?

"Just as a physician might say there isn't a single human being who enjoys perfect health, so someone with a proper knowledge of man might say there is not a single human being who does not despair at least a little, in whose innermost being there does not dwell an uneasiness, an unquiet, a discordance, an anxiety in the face of an unknown something, or a something he doesn't even dare strike up acquaintance with, an anxiety about a possibility in life or an anxiety about himself."

According to Kierkegaard, there is not a human being who is not in despair. If you've never despaired, it's because you've never hoped, and that itself is also despair. Despair is the sickness unto death, not of the body but of the spirit.

[[deleted user]]

I haven't read this one. Looking at my volume of Kierkegaard, I must have started to at one time. The first 1/4 of it is full of scribbled marginalia where I was arguing with M. Søren. Maybe I should go back and give it another shot.

[Nemo]

Here is my review of The Sickness Unto Death. It seems ironic to post this review on Halloween night, when everybody dresses up to be someone else, because Kierkegaard's message in this book is precisely the opposite, "If only everyone can be themselves!"

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Kate,

If you like, we can discuss Kierkegaard point by point, in a civil manner, of course. :) I only read two of his works (the other is Fear and Trembling) and enjoyed them both. It would help me to understand his position better.

[[deleted user]]

Nemo,
I read parts of Kierkegaard in college, zillions of years ago. Don't look to me for great insights!! But when I get around to looking at this again we can chat. The book is now out on my bedside table which is closer to being read than in the bookshelf. :)

[MadgeUK]

The next group read here is The Brother Karamazov. Kierkegaard falls outside the range of books being discussed here which are those published from 1800-1910.

[[deleted user]]

MadgeUK wrote: "The next group read here is The Brother Karamazov. Kierkegaard falls outside the range of books being discussed here which are those published from 1800-1910."

Kierkegaard is mid-nineteenth century. Lived from 1813-1855.

[Nemo]

Kate wrote: "Kierkegaard is mid-nineteenth century. Lived from 1813-1855..."

Thank you Kate. The Sickness Unto Death was first published in 1849, six years before Kierkegaard died at 42. I don't much about him, but based on what I've read and his Wiki page, he lived a hard life.

[MadgeUK]

Ooops yes. Sorry!

[Jan]

Nemo wrote: "The Sickness Unto Death is a great book, but I've been having difficulties writing decent reviews, so I'm experimenting with a new approach and using this topic as a sounding board.

W..."
Nemo the quote says ..."there is not a human being who does not despair at least a little..."....then you expand this to "there is not a human being who is not in despair." I don't think those statements are the same. In despair conveys a pervasive state, whereas '...who does not despair a little' expresses some level of despair...perhaps limited to certain aspects of life, as opposed to your later statement which seems to imply a more generalised state. Do you see the distinction I'm making?

[Nemo]

Jan wrote: "I don't think those statements are the same. In despair conveys a pervasive state, whereas '...who does not despair a little' expresses some level of despair...perhaps limited to certain aspects of life, as opposed to your later statement which seems to imply a more generalised state. Do you see the distinction I'm making? ..."

Jan, thanks for the keen observation! There is a distinction, and an important one too, but I didn't make it clear.

The quote describes the symptoms of despair, namely, uneasiness, anxiety, etc. Kierkegaard uses the example of being deserted by a loved one. One might say it's limited only to his/her love life. But Kierkegaard argues that despair is actually and always over oneself, e.g., not wanting to be oneself without the loved one in his/her life. Seen from that angle, despair is a pervasive state

Does that make sense?

ETA: I incorporated the above discussion into my review.