Four Upbuilding Discourses, 1844


Four Upbuilding Discourses is the last of the Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses published during 1843–1844 by Søren Kierkegaard.

Overview

Similar to Kierkegaard's other books, the Four Upbuilding Discourses discusses decision making. In the book, he has to decide if he wants to get married after having already made the "sacred pledge". He also has to decide if he would carry out the wishes of his father Michael and become a Lutheran preacher.

Criticism

Critics were against putting stress on the inner life of the spiritual self at the expense of the outer life of the physical self. Kierkegaard would agree that a balance is necessary for one to be happy. George Brandes said in his memoirs, "That God had died for me as my Saviour,—I could not understand what it meant."

Primary sources

  • Søren Kierkegaard, Four Upbuilding Discourses, 1844 first discourse of the series. Translated by David F. Swenson 1944–45, 1958
  • Four Upbuilding Discourses, 1844 Wikiquote
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Secondary sources

  • The Western Literary Messenger, Sept 1849 Living Philosophers in Denmark
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