The Present Age: On the Death of Rebellion (Resistance Library) - Softcover

Kierkegaard, Soren

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062930850 ISBN 13: 9780062930859

Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2019

Synopsis

“A revolutionary age is an age of action; ours is the age of advertisement and publicity. Nothing ever happens but there is immediate publicity everywhere.”— From The Present Age

In The Present Age (1846), Søren Kierkegaard analyzes the philosophical implications of a society dominated by the mass-media. What makes the essay so remarkable is the way it seems to speak directly to our time—i.e. the Information Age—where life is dominated by mere “information” not true “knowledge.” Kierkegaard even goes so far as to say that advertising and publicity almost immediately co-opts and suppresses revolutionary actions/thoughts.

A stunningly prescient essay that foresaw the rise of twenty-four-hour news and social media, The Present Age examines the philosophical and political implications of a culture of endless, inconsequential commentary and debate.

In times of crisis, the great works of philosophy help us make sense of the world. The Harper Perennial Resistance Library is a special five-book series highlighting short classic works of independent thought that illuminate the nature of truth, humanity's dangerous attraction to authoritarianism, the influence of media and mass communication, and the philosophy of resistance—all critical in understanding today's politically charged world.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Kierkegaard’s stunningly prescient essay that foresaw the rise of twenty-four-hour news and social media, The Present Age examines the philosophical and political implications of a culture of endless, inconsequential commentary and debate.

THE HARPER PERENNIAL RESISTANCE LIBRARY

In times of crisis, the great works of philosophy help us make sense of the world. The Resistance Library is a special five-book series highlighting short classic works of independent thought that illuminate the nature of truth, humanity’s dangerous attraction to authoritarianism, the influence of media and mass communication, and the philosophy of resistance—all critical in understanding today’s politically charged world.

About the Author

Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) lived in Copenhagen, Denmark. His books include Works of Love and Spiritual Writings (translated and edited by George Pattison).

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 0062930850
• ISBN 13: 9780062930859
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128