Repetition and Philosophical Crumbs

The love of repetition is in truth the only happy love So says Constantine Constantius on the first page of Kierkegaard’s Repetition. Life itself, according to Philosophical pseudonymous narrator, is a repetition, and in the course of this witty, playful work Constantius explores the nature of love and happiness, the passing of time and the importance of moving forward (and backward) The ironically entitled Philosophical Crumbs pursues the investigation of faith and love and their tense relationship with reason. Written only a year apart, these two short works are a perfect introduction to Kierkegaard’s philosophy: playful and profound, they explore notions of love and time, selfhood and Christianity, and pave the way for his later major works. These are the first English translations to convey both the philosophical precision of the originals and their literary quality. Edward F. Mooney’s Introduction deftly guides the reader through Kierkegaard’s key arguments and concepts, while helpful notes identify references and allusions and clarify difficulties in the texts.

Table of Contents

1. Thought Project

2.The God as Teacher and Saviour

3. The Absolute Paradox

4. The Situation of the Contemporary Disciple

Interlude

5.The Disciple at Second Hand

About the Author

Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855) was a 19th century Danish philosopher and theologian, generally recognized as the first existentialist philosopher. Photo by Neils Christian Kierkegaard [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.