Kierkegaard: An Introduction

by C. Stephen Evans

C. Stephen Evans provides a clear, readable introduction to Søren Kierkegaard (1813–55) as a philosopher and thinker. His book is organised around Kierkegaard's concept of the three 'stages' or 'spheres' of human existence, which provide both a developmental account of the human self and an understanding of three rival views of human life and its meaning. Evans also discusses such important Kierkegaardian concepts as 'indirect communication', 'truth as subjectivity', and the Incarnation understood as 'the Absolute Paradox'. Although his discussion emphasises the importance of Christianity for understanding Kierkgaard, it shows him to be a writer of great interest to a secular as well as a religious audience. Evans' book brings Kierkegaard into conversation with western philosophers past and present, presenting him as one who gives powerful answers to the questions which philosophers ask.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion, History, Christianity, Academic, Biography

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2009

About the author

C. Stephen Evans (b. Atlanta , Georgia) is an American historian and philosopher, he is one of the United States' leading experts on Søren Kierkegaard having published six books on Kierkegaard over 25 years. He is currently Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Baylor University. He holds a B.A. with High Honors (philosophy), from Wheaton College, an M.Phil. (philosophy) from Yale University, and a Ph.D. (philosophy) from Yale University.

He has won numerous awards, and reviews manuscripts for several university presses, including Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Princeton University Press, as well as Harper and Rowe. He does the same for several academic journals. He was curator of the Howard V. and Edna H. Hong Kierkegaard Library. He has organized several major conferences. He served five years on the the editorial board for Kierkegaard Monographs and for the International Kierkegaard Commentary Series. He is a past president of the Society of Christian Philosophers and the Søren Kierkegaard Society.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

When studying Kierkegaard this year I spent too much of my time trying to find a decent introduction to the thinker. Patrick Gardiner's Very Short Introduction is alright for what it is, but perpetuates some quite outdated misreadings of his thought (even the old faith involving believing two contradictory things at once chestnut). Evans provides the contextual information to dispel such mistakes, in this case by saying that the word contradiction is just an allusion to Hegel. Kierkegaard is just thinking of the tension between two contrasts, like the tension in King Lear between a King's nobility and his abject suffering, so Kierkegaardian faith is not trying really hard to believe something daft.

Evans has been publishing articles about Kierkegaard in philosophy journals for decades, but this is more than just a loosely stitched together collection of articles. Evans is always clear, dry and good at providing the examples needed to connect Kierkegaard's abstractions to life. One nice example of this is the connection Evans makes between Kierkegaard's idea that it is impossible to wholly escape the ethical through immersion in the aesthetic with the experience of addiction.

This is an elegant introduction that fills a gap in the Kierkegaard literature nicely.

[Amin Ghaemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

ایونز کیرکگورپژوهی نام‌آشنا و پرنویس است. در این کتاب کوشیده طرحواره‌ای از اندیشه‌ی کیرکگور با تکیه بر قرائتی فلسفی از آن بدست دهد. از این رهگذر کیرکگور نکاتی به ما می‌آموزد که برای مسائل زیسته‌ی معاصر ما شایان تأمل است. اول آنکه او مرزهای درهم‌فرورفته‌ی فلسفه و الهیات را به ما نشان می‌دهد. تأمل فلسفی برای او قدمی در مسیر دغدغه‌های الهیاتی است و الهیات برای او عرصه‌ای در گفتگوی فلسفی می‌گشاید؛ گفتگویی میان او و سه کتاب مهم مدام در جریان است: پدیدارشناسی روح هگل، دین در محدوده‌ی عقل تنهای کانت و عهد جدید. بدین ترتیب او می‌آموزاند که فلسفه و الهیات - در معنای عرفی- گرچه برای خود تشخصی دارند، از یکدیگر جدایی تام و تمامی نیز ندارند.

از دیگر سو، کیرکگور دغدغه‌ی تجربه‌ی زیسته‌ی ایمان را دارد. او نگران فروکاهش دینداری به رفتاری صرفا اجتماعی یا یک هویت یکسان‌ساز عرفی است. او در عهد جدید طرحی از دینداری به مثابه یک "از آن خود سازی شورمندانه‌ی حقیقت" بدست می‌آورد. او بالیدن و پرورش این شورمندی را گرچه جز با لطف الهی ممکن نمی‌داند، مسیر این تحقق و تقلای انسان برای بنیان کردن اصیل آن "خود شورمند مسیحی" را پی می‌گیرد. او در فضای مدرن نه با مسامحه و نه با گوشه گیری، بلکه با تعاملی از سر اعتماد بنفس و ایمان متأملانه دینداری می‌ورزد. آموزه‌های او در نسبت میان جامعه، اخلاق و مناسک با حقیقت دین چه بسا برای دغدغه‌مندان دیندار جالب توجه باشد.

ایونز در این کتاب اندکی خشت زده و خود نیز بدان معترف است. علت این تکرار مکرر بحث‌ها را - گرچه به لطف ایجاز کلامش چندان ملال‌آور نیست- در هم تنیدگی طبیعی اندیشه‌ی کیرکگور عنوان می‌کند. با این همه او موفق شده طرحی خطی و معنی‌دار از اندیشه‌ی کیرکگور و نسبت جدی و انتقادی آن با فضای هگلی-کانتی زمانه‌اش را بدست دهد

در مورد ترجمه، گرچه با متن اصلی تطبیقش نداده‌ام، اما واژه‌گزینی‌های دقت‌شده و سلاست چشمگیر متن -که در ترجمه‌هایی از این دست نایاب است- همچنین توجه کامل او به ترجمه‌های موجود فارسی از آثار کیرکگور نوید ترجمه‌ای قابل اعتماد را می‌دهد.

[Ian Morel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great outline of his work as a philosopher.

I am consistently fascinated by Kierkegaard and I continue to learn more from him.

The only thing that I wish Evans would have taken more time with is the "leap of faith" concept and the teleological suspension of the ethical. I don't think he gave that the treatment it deserves. Those ideas have just fascinated me for so long.

All in all a really great book to start with or to clear up some misconceptions about Kierkegaard!

[فلاح رحيم · Rating 3 out of 5]

A post secular introduction to Kierkegaard in Which Evans rejects the post modernist readings. For him, Kierkegaard does what he claims and his religious message is taken seriously. The first part of the book is helpful in pointing out the main concepts in his philosophy. When we move from the Aesthetic and Ethical to the religious the focus is lost and theological debate engages Evans so much he forgets to pin down clear signposts. It is still a knowledgeable introduction from a real expert.

[Darin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it and it is helping me to understand Either/Or which I am reading right now.

[Michal Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Kierkegaard: An Introduction," C. Stephen Evans provides an accurate, concise, and readable introduction to Kierkegaard's thought. This is an immense achievement.

Evans is attentive to the different pseudonyms that Kierkegaard uses throughout his authorship, and he does not fall into the novice mistake (unlike far too many so-called "scholars") of conflating the philosophical positions held by the pseudonyms with that of Kierkegaard himself. What is more, Evans centers his readings of important texts such as "Either/Or," "Fear and Trembling," "Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments," and "The Sickness unto Death" on the aims that Kierkegaard clearly sets out in his autobiography "The Point of View" i.e., to bring Christianity back into Christendom and to bring about the growth of the single individual who stands before God through direct and indirect communication.

And yet, Evans is not merely falling into the trap of recapitulating what Kierkegaard himself has already articulated throughout his work. He also thoughtfully considers Kierkegaard's propositions and their existential implications for the modern reader, both for Christians and non-Christians alike. Evans never loses sight of the essentially "religious" mission that Kierkegaard sets out for himself, and yet draws out important psychological insights for those who do not share the presuppositions of Kierkegaard's Christian worldview.

Along with Alastair Hannay's seminal introductions to the Penguin Classics editions of Kierkegaard's texts, Evans' book is important for any reader who is seeking to gain a solid foothold into understanding the Dane, his existential and religious concerns, and his work.

[Graham Hoppstock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good clear introduction to Kierkegaard’s thought. One that treats him as a philosopher, but sees how his Christian commitments impinge on how Kierkegaard shapes his “existentialism.” Helpful if not hampered at times by an Anglo-American framing.

[Benyamin]

همین الان متوجه شدم که این کتاب رو اضافه نکردم بااینکه خیلی وقته خوندمش. این کتاب احتمالا بهترین نقطه شروع برای فهم سورن کیرکگوره.

[I-kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evans is one of the leading English-speaking SK scholars, and it's quite impressive how much he's packed into this short book (just below 200 pages). It is written in lucid and straightforward language. He claims to focus on SK as a philosopher instead of a Christian or "theologian" - that doesn't mean that the two are separate in SK, but it does mean that he focuses more on the writings that do not assume acceptance of Christian doctrines (the two exceptions, I think, are Works of Love and Sickness Unto Death).

I learned the most from the chapters dealing with the famous three stages / spheres of the development of personhood (chapters 4-6), something that's not easy (for me, at least) to tease out by reading Kierkegaard alone. I didn't find what I wanted in the explication of Religiousness B (chapter 7) - I expected a discussion of why Religiousness A might be unsatisfying, motivating a transition to B, but it appears that no such "dialectical moment" takes place or is discussed by SK himself?

There are occasional discussions of Danish terms and an effort to relate SK to contemporary analytic discussions in epistemology and philosophy of religion. Most of these are very valuable and helpful, but I found the characterization of SK as an epistemological externalist when it comes to knowledge of god a bit puzzling (pp. 164-5). That Faith opens one to the existence of god seems to me rather an internalist account.

I wish there was a chapter or section on the Concept of Anxiety but one cannot cover everything in a book.

[Samuel Eastlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone reading Kierkegaard, aware of his use of pseudonyms and eager to find out what he wanted to tell us, will have questions about what he was saying and why he said it. Evans has produced an excellent overview of the major themes of Kierkegaard's thought, in particular what 'truth as subjectivity' means, why Kierkegaard uses the pseudonyms, indirect communication, the maieutic ideal (and regular references to Socrates), and the three stages/spheres on life's way. He places Kierkegaard in his philosophical and historical context, and produces an introduction which anyone beginning Kierkegaard studies should read.

An important question is: does Evans overstate Kierkegaard's Christianity? Evans is himself a Christian, so is he biased? I don't think he does. He acknowledges other readings of SK, yet still gives good reason to take Kierkegaard at his word when saying that he perceives his task, from beginning to end, as religious. After reading 'The lilies of the field', I myself am convinced that secular readings of Kierkegaard miss critical aspects of his thought.

[Vince Eccles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a bit academic, however, it does the best job of presenting the best overview of Kierkegaard's philosophical/theological project. In particular, Dr. Evans gives an excellent interpretation of the pseudonymous book projects by Johannes Climacus (Philosophical Fragments, Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments) and Anti-Climacus (The Sickness Unto Death, Practice in Christianity).

These two pseudonyms referred to the 7th century classic "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" by John Climacus. Kierkegaard uses Climacus as the religious author at the bottom rung of the human self climbing towards God. Anti-Climacus is the religious Christian who has moved through rungs of ascent to the top of the ladder as a fully engaged human-self in relation to God. Kierkegaard cannot claim either position so he uses pseudonymous authorship.

Dr. Evans is striving to remain within philosophy so he does not cover Kierkegaard's non-pseudonymous pastoral writings.

[Shanon Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent treatment of Kierkegaard as both a philosopher and religious thinker, though I’d hesitate to offer this work as any kind of introduction of his thought. One really needs to have read at least Fear and Trembling, Sickness Unto Death, and probably Either/Or before approaching Evans’ so-called introduction.

[Paolo De Ruggiero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise overview of K’s thought. Easy to read, well organized, not too pedantic. Recommend.

[Igor Capelari · Rating 2 out of 5]

É perceptivel o amor do autor por Kierkegaard. Infelizmente, o comentário tem cristianismo demais e filosofia de menos.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really snappy introduction, just like it purports to be.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my experience this is the best introduction to Kierkegaard other than the English original study of the Danish philosopher by Walter Lowrie.

The Lowrie book can be difficult to track down outside of academic libraries. The study by Lowrie is more in depth having been written by the Anglican clergyman prior to Kierkegaard being translated into English. Lowrie is a vintage study based on actual interviews with family members (relative to the more sterile types of academic writing today).

Evans captures some of the original newness of Kierkegaard unlike many contemporaries while thoroughly sifting through the massive amount of secondary literature effectively locating the critical themes.

C. Stephen Evans is an interesting contemporary interpreter who writes about Kierkegaard in a pedagogical voice. He is a Christian philosopher of Protestant inclinations. This book is the clearest that I have read on the subject. Kierkegaard is not easy to read about when neglecting the primary texts.

Reading Either/Or I & II, the Philosophical Fragments, Fear and Trembling or the Sickness unto Death can provide adequate grip of the material prior to starting to read the secondary literature.

Evans can be read to understand Kierkegaard in outline. Of all of Evans books I think that this one is the more basic or accessible.

[benebean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should probably reread this sometime and pay closer attention, mostly I got bored and distracted...

[Omni Theus · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars. Definitely a master key in unlocking some of the depths of Soren's work. Best introductory work out there.