Kierkegaard and the Problem of Self-Love [Paperback]

This book develops a Kierkegaard-inspired account of proper self-love which accommodates trust, hope, and forgiveness of self and others.This book shows the relevance of a Kierkegaard-inspired account of what it means to love oneself properly to such topics as friendship, romantic love, trust, forgiveness, and pride. It will be of interest to scholars and students of Kierkegaard and those interested in philosophical and theological ethics and moral psychology.This book shows the relevance of a Kierkegaard-inspired account of what it means to love oneself properly to such topics as friendship, romantic love, trust, forgiveness, and pride. It will be of interest to scholars and students of Kierkegaard and those interested in philosophical and theological ethics and moral psychology.The problem of whether we should love ourselves - and if so how - has particular resonance within Christian thought, and is an important yet underinvestigated theme in the writings of S?ren Kierkegaard. In Works of Love, Kierkegaard argues that the friendships and romantic relationships which we typically treasure most are often merely disguised forms of 'selfish' self-love. Yet in this nuanced and subtle account, John Lippitt shows that Kierkegaard also provides valuable resources for responding to the challenge of how we can love ourselves, as well as others. Lippitt relates what it means to love oneself properly to such topics as love of God and neighbour, friendship, romantic love, self-denial and self-sacrifice, trust, hope and forgiveness. The book engages in detail with Works of Love, related Kierkegaard texts and important recent studies, and also addresses a wealth of wider literature in ethics, moral psychology and philosophy of religion.1. Introduction: how should I love myself?; 2. Cracking the mirror: friendship and the problem of self-love; 3. Self-love in Works of Love: explicit references; 4. The problem of special relationships: self-love's wider context; 5. Another take onl³|