Three Upbuilding Discourses (1843)
| Author | Søren Kierkegaard |
|---|---|
| Original title | Tre opbyggelige Taler |
| Language | Danish |
| Series | First authorship (Discourses) |
| Genre | Christianity, philosophy |
| Publisher | Bookdealer P. G. Philipsen |
Publication date | October 16, 1843 |
| Publication place | Denmark |
Published in English | 1943 – first translation |
| Preceded by | Fear and Trembling |
| Followed by | Repetition |
Three Upbuilding Discourses is a book by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard that was published in 1843. In this work, Kierkegaard continues his exploration of the distinction between externalities and inwardness, shifting the focus from the inwardness of faith to that of love.
Structure
[edit]The Three Discourses are:
- "Love Will Hide a Multitude of Sins"
- "Love Will Hide a Multitude of Sins"
- "Strengthening in the Inner Being"
"Love Will Hide a Multitude of Sins"
[edit]
Kierkegaard's believes that love never becomes something else because of external circumstances. He discusses “how love hides a multitude of sins”.[2]
"Love Will Hide a Multitude of Sins"
[edit]Kierkegaard says love is no dream or mood or the kind of self-love that only thinks of love in relation to itself.[3] Kierkegaard uses the Socratic method to question himself in relation to love and advises everyone to do the same.[4]
Kierkegaard continued his discourse on love in his 1847 book, Works of Love.
"Strengthening in the Inner Being"
[edit]Kierkegaard discusses the “main concern of life” in this discourse.
He begins with Paul the Apostle in Rome as a prisoner.
Kierkegaard asks three questions:
- Can prosperity serve for strengthening the inner being?
- Can fortune or misfortune serve for strengthening the inner being?
- Can adversity serve for strengthening the inner being?
Criticism
[edit]An author 90 years later related the Discourses to Kierkegaard's other works.
Since the pseudonymous works are in the form of “indirect communication,” they stand in need of interpretation, and the Discourses, which always were in the form of “direct communication,” afford in some instances (especially in the case of Repetition, Fear and Trembling, and the Stages) a very precious and specific illumination of S.K.’s meaning, not merely a proof of his religious intent in general.[5]
Influence and reception
[edit]Kierkegaard sold 139 copies of the book.[6] Three Upbuilding Discourses was not translated into English until 1946 when David F. Swenson translated and published all the discourses in four volumes.[7] Howard V. Hong then translated and published them in 1990 into one volume.[8] In 1852 these discourses were called Instructive Tales by William Howitt.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Journals and Papers III 3394 1842-1844?
- ^ Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses, p. 57
- ^ 18 Dis p. 74 Hong 1990
- ^ 18 Dis p. 72-73 Hong 1990
- ^ Walter Lowrie, A Short Life of Kierkegaard p. 197
- ^ Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses Hong 1990 p. xxi-xxii
- ^ Edifying Discourses 4 vols. Translated by David F. Swenson and Lillian Marvin Swenson, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1943 - 46 43015536.
- ^ Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses, Søren Kierkegaard 1843-1844 Copyright 1990 by Howard V. Hong Princeton University Press
- ^ The literature and romance of northern Europe: constituting a complete history of the literature of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland, with copious specimens of the most celebrated histories, romances (1852)p. 239-240
Sources
[edit]- Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses, by Søren Kierkegaard], Princeton University Press. Hong, 1990
- Fear and Trembling/Repetition; Copyright 1843 Søren Kierkegaard – Kierkegaard's Writings; 6 – copyright 1983 – Howard V. Hong
- Edifying Discourses, by Søren Kierkegaard, Vol. I, Translated from the Danish by David F. Swenson and Lillian Marvin Swenson, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1943
- Kierkegaard's Writings, III, Part I: Either/Or. Part I. Translated by Howard and Edna Hong. Princeton, 1988, ISBN 978-0-691-02041-9 (Hong)
- Walter Lowrie, A Short Life of Kierkegaard Princeton University Press 1942, 1970 ISBN 0-691-01957-6
External links
[edit]
Quotations related to Three Upbuilding Discourses (1843) at Wikiquote- Love Will Cover a Multitude of Sins – David F. Swenson translation
- William Howitt, "The literature and romance of northern Europe: constituting a complete history of the literature of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland, with copious specimens of the most celebrated histories, romances (1852)". Retrieved 2010-09-06.
