An Analysis of Soren Kierkegaard's The Sickness Unto Death [Paperback]

S?ren Kierkegaards The Sickness unto Death is widely recognized as one of the most significant and influential works of Christian philosophy written in the nineteenth century. One of the cornerstones of Kierkegaards reputation as a writer and thinker, the book is also a masterclass in the art of interpretation. In critical thinking, interpretation is all about defining and clarifying terms  making sure that everyone is on the same page. But it can also be about redefining terms: showing old concepts in a new light by interpreting them in a certain way. This skill is at the heart of The Sickness unto Death.

Kierkegaards book focuses on the meaning of despair  the sickness named in the title. For Kierkegaard, the key problem of existence was an individuals relationship with God, and he defines true despair as equating to the idea of sin  something that separates people from God, or from the idea of a higher standard beyond ourselves. Kierkegaards interpretative journey into the ideas of despair, sin and death is a Christian exploration of the place of the individual in the world. But its interpretative skills inspired generations of philosophers of all stripes  including notorious atheists like Jean-Paul Sartre.

Ways in to the Text  Who was S?ren Kierkegaard?  What does The Sickness Unto Death Say?  Why does The Sickness Unto Death Matter?  Section 1: Influences  Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context  Module 2: Academic Context  Module 3: The Problem  Module 4: The Author's Contribution  Section 2: Ideas  Module 5: Main Ideas  Module 6: Secondary Ideas  Module 7: Achievement  Module 8: Place in the Author's Work&l7