Starting with Kierkegaard [Paperback]

S?ren Kierkegaard was one of the most important European philosophers of the nineteenth-century and is widely regarded as the founder of existentialism. His work had a profound influence on some of the main intellectual currents of the last two centuries.



Clearly and thematically structured, with investigations into a host of Kierkegaard's key concepts-including 'immediacy', 'sin', 'despair', 'individuality' and 'the crowd'-and with references to a wide range of his works, Starting with Kierkegaard provides the reader with a balanced overview of the Danish philosopher's project, paying as much attention to the signed 'edifying' works as to the famous authorship of the pseudonyms.



Starting with Kierkegaardalso offers a short survey of the historical, biographical and philosophical context of Kierkegaard's ideas as they started to take shape in the 1830s. The book closes with a discussion of Kierkegaard and society, and of his continuing relevance to today.Starting with Kierkegaardis the ideal introduction for anyone coming to the work of this hugely important thinker for the first time.

A new introduction to Kierkegaard, guiding the student through the key concepts of his work by examining the overall development of his ideas.

Patrick Sheil read English and Modern Languages at King's College, Cambridge, where he then completed an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. on Kierkegaard and Levinas. His publications includeKierkegaard and Levinas: The Subjunctive Mood(Ashgate, 2010).

Preface and Acknowledgements\List of Abbreviations\ 1. Introduction, Historical Context and Biographical Outline \ i. Short Introduction: A Starting Place for Kierkegaard \ ii. Biographical Outline \ iii. Influences and Historical Context \ 2. Central Themes and Key Motifs \ i. The Occasion and an Occasion for Starting \ ii. Sin \ iii. Self-accusation \ iv. Comparison \ v. Stillness \ vi. The Multiplicity \ 3. Immediacy \ i. The VarietlÃN