Soren Kierkegaard Biography

Kierkegaard's early work was written under various pseudonyms that he used to present distinctive viewpoints and to interact with each other in complex dialogue. He explored particularly complex problems from different viewpoints, each under a different pseudonym. He wrote many Upbuilding Discourses under his own name and dedicated them to the "single individual" who might want to discover the meaning of his works.

Some of Kierkegaard's key ideas include the concept of "Truth as Subjectivity", the knight of faith, the recollection and repetition dichotomy, angst, the infinite qualitative distinction, faith as a passion, and the three stages on life's way. Kierkegaard's writings were written in Danish and were initially limited to Scandinavia, but by the turn of the 20th century, his writings were translated into major European languages, such as French and German. By the mid-20th century, his thought exerted a substantial influence on philosophy, theology, and Western culture.

Selected bibliography:

• (1841) On the Concept of Irony with Continual Reference to Socrates (Om Begrebet Ironi med stadigt Hensyn til Socrates)
• (1843) Either/Or (Enten-Eller)
• (1843) Two Upbuilding Discourses, 1843 (To opbyggelige Taler)
• (1843) Fear and Trembling (Frygt og Bæven)
• (1843) Three Upbuilding Discourses, 1843 (Tre opbyggelige Taler)
• (1843) Four Upbuilding Discourses, 1843 (Fire opbyggelige Taler)
• (1844) Philosophical Fragments (Philosophiske Smuler)
• (1844) The Concept of Anxiety (Begrebet Angest)
• (1845) Stages on Life's Way (Stadier paa Livets Vei)
• (1847) Edifying Discourses in Diverse Spirits (Opbyggelige Taler i forskjellig Aand), which included Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing)
• (1847) Works of Love (Kjerlighedens Gjerninger)
• (1848) Christian Discourses (Christelige Taler)
• (1849) The Sickness Unto Death (Sygdommen til Døden)
• (1850) Practice in Christianity (Indøvelse i Christendom)