Free eBooks
Works Of Love : Kierkegaard's Writings, Vol 16
Available To Downloads

The various kinds and conditions of love are a common theme for Kierkegaard, beginning with his early Either/Or, through "The Diary of the Seducer" and Judge William's eulogy on married love, to his last work, on the changelessness of God's love. Works of Love, the midpoint in the series, is also the monumental high point, because of its penetrating, illuminating analysis of the forms and sources of love. Love as feeling and mood is distinguished from works of love, love of the lovable from love of the unlovely, preferential love from love as the royal law, love as mutual egotism from triangular love, and erotic love from self-giving love.This work is marked by Kierkegaard's Socratic awareness of the reader, both as the center of awakened understanding and as the initiator of action. Written to be read aloud, the book conveys a keenness of thought and an insightful, poetic imagination that make such an attentive approach richly rewarding. Works of Love not only serves as an excellent place to begin exploring the writings of Kierkegaard, but also rewards many rereadings.

Series: Kierkegaard's Writings (Book 16)

Paperback: 584 pages

Publisher: Princeton University Press (March 23, 1998)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0691059160

ISBN-13: 978-0691059167

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.6 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #329,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #137 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Movements > Existentialism #648 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Religious #673 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > History & Surveys

_Works of Love_ by Kierkegaard is the most uplifting, encouraging, and hope-restoring book I have ever read. Kierkegaard's statement that "the greatest act of love anyone can ever achieve is to mourn for someone who is dead" is a statement I have used to guide myself through innumerable existential crises and has given me hope in my darkest hours. The wisdom contained in this book is an essential tool in dealing with the premature and untimely death of a loved one, and restoring your hope and faith in God even in the face of tragedy. Kierkegaard's sense of empathy and morality is unsurpassed by any other philosopher living or dead, and I will also go so far as to call him a saint.This book is also extremely well-written, well-translated, and readable. _Works of Love_ is living proof of the theory that inherently complicated and profound subject matter does not necessarily have to be extremely difficult to read. Kierkegaard's use of anecdotal situations and clear real-life examples to illustrate his theories make the book more readily understandable, and his writing style naturally lends itself to clear and accurate translation. Unlike many German philosophers of the same time period, Kierkegaard (from Denmark) does not lapse into highly personal, abstract, and inaccessable concepts, but instead focuses on more realistic and timeless problems that have plagued humanity since the dawn of sentience. While authors like Hegel and Schopenhauer are intellectually stimulating and mildly interesting, reading their works does not exactly make you happier, more hopeful, and more empathetically caring. You are often left with nothing but pie-in-the-sky theories regarding esoteric philosophical questions that are only marginally relevant to the everyday realities we experience.

This is more of a reaction to Kierkegaard's "Works of Love" than a review of the book. I cannot perfect perfection.First, he hits the genius of Christianity, and take's Paul's chapter on Charity, 1 Corinthians 13 as the backbone text. This is an impressive "love poem" which really explains why Christianity is so novel. If you don't believe me, read pre-Christian literature, such as Socrates, Homer, or The Epic of Gilgamesh. Pre-Christian society ignored human dignity and worth, and people were just functions of the state, or the whim of the king.Secondly, Kierkegaard recognizes that love is a work, and not merely a state of heart or a chattering point. This notion of work is anathema to "Pop Protestantism," which was Kierkegaard's mortal enemy. He commented that the obsession with "grace" had turned Christianity upside-down, and had caused men to try and cheat God out of his religion. This is another way of saying that faith without works is dead.Kierkegaard last insight is that God is the basis of love, which he underscores in the opening invocation. Too many people gloss by this prefacing prayer, but that is what separates love and love with power. God gives us power to love.I found this translation quite readable. Soren, in any version, is rather thick, almost as if he is intentionally trying to hide things. Part of difficulty comes from the dense 19th Century verbosity that was a token of the age. However, his greatest asset is humorous illustrations, which helps mentally fix the points forever.The only criticism I have is that Kierkegaard does not connect love to the Atonement.

Works of Love : Kierkegaard's Writings, Vol 16 Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard MASON JAR RECIPES BOOK SET 5 book in 1: Meals in Jars (vol.1); Salads in Jars (Vol. 2); Desserts in Jars (Vol. 3); Breakfasts in Jars (Vol. 4); Gifts in Jars (Vol. 5): Easy Mason Jar Recipe Cookbooks The Diary Of Soren Kierkegaard The Essential Kierkegaard Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians Kierkegaard's World Søren Kierkegaard's Christian Psychology: Insight for Counseling and Pastoral Care Pierre-Esprit Radisson: The Collected Writings, Volume 2: The Port Nelson Relations, Miscellaneous Writings, and Related Documents Last Steps: The Late Writings of Leo Tolstoy: The Late Writings of Leo Tolstoy (Penguin Classics) #Love: #Love is Book #1 in the Adult Book Series Celebrating Love and Friendship (#Love, #Pretty, #Beautiful, #Beauty, #Me) (#Coloring #Book Series of Adult Coloring Books) The Complete Works of D. H. Lawrence (22 Complete Works of D. H. Lawrence Including Women in Love, The Rainbow, Sons and Lovers, Fantasia of the Unconscious, Aaron's Rod, Twilight in Italy, & More) Scherzos: Chopin Complete Works Vol. V (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works) Waltzes: Chopin Complete Works Vol. IX (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works) Scherzos: Chopin National Edition 9A, Vol. IX (National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin, Series a: Works Published During Chopin's Lifetime / Wydanie Narodowe Dziel Fryderyka Chopina, Serie) Ballades: Chopin Complete Works Vol. III (Fryderyk Chopin Complete Works) Best Asian Recipes from Mama Li's Kitchen BookSet - 4 books in 1: Chinese Take-Out Recipes (Vol 1); Wok (Vol 2); Asian Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes (Vol 3); Egg Roll, Spring Roll and Dumpling (Vol 4) Camping Cookbook 4 in 1 Book Set - Grilling Recipes (Vol. 1); Foil Packet Recipes (Vol. 2); Dutch Oven Recipes (Vol. 3) and: Camping Cookbook: Fun, Quick & Easy Campfire and Grilling Recipes (Vol 4) The Works of Ford Madox Ford: The Good Soldier and Other Writings (Halcyon Classics) Jewish Poet and Intellectual in Seventeenth-Century Venice: The Works of Sarra Copia Sulam in Verse and Prose Along with Writings of Her ... (The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe)