Either/Or: A Fragment of Life, in Two Volumes

First English translation, which strangely was not published until one hundred years after its appearance in the original Danish. Very good in fair to good jackets. Jacket spines stained (more to vol. 2) with faint associated stain to vol. 2 cover spine, jackets toned, top and fore edges a bit foxed. 1944 Hard Cover. vii, 387; xvi, 304 pp. Kierkegaard's work remains important in existentialist philosophy (he is considered a founder of the school), Christian theology, ethics, and psychology. This work, which contrasts ethical and aesthetic attitudes towards life, established his reputation as an important thinker. "Published in two volumes in 1843, Either/Or is an influential book written by the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, exploring the aesthetic and ethical 'phases' or 'stages' of existence. Either/Or portrays two life views, one consciously hedonistic, the other based on ethical duty and responsibility. Each life view is written and represented by a fictional pseudonymous author, the prose of the work depending on the life view being discussed. For example, the aesthetic life view is written in short essay form, with poetic imagery and allusions, discussing aesthetic topics such as music, seduction, drama, and beauty. The ethical life view is written as two long letters, with a more argumentative and restrained prose, discussing moral responsibility, critical reflection, and marriage. The views of the book are not neatly summarized, but are expressed as lived experiences embodied by the pseudonymous authors. The book's central concern is the primal question asked by Aristotle, 'How should we live''" -- Wikipedia ABOUT THE AUTHOR: "Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (5 May 1813 - 11 November 1855) was a prolific 19th century Danish philosopher and theologian. Kierkegaard strongly criticised both the Hegelianism of his time and what he saw as the empty formalities of the Church of Denmark. Much of his work deals with religious themes such as faith in God, the institution of the Christian Church, Christian ethics and theology, and the emotions and feelings of individuals when faced with life choices. His early work was written under various pseudonyms who present their own distinctive viewpoints in a complex dialogue. Kierkegaard left the task of discovering the meaning of his works to the reader, because "the task must be made difficult, for only the difficult inspires the noble-hearted". Scholars have interpreted Kierkegaard variously as an existentialist, neo-orthodoxist, postmodernist, humanist, and individualist. Crossing the boundaries of philosophy, theology, psychology, and literature, he is an influential figure in contemporary thought.…