
S&oslash;ren&nbsp;Kierkegaard: A Website Course
Dear Reader.
Around the world many arrangements are made in the name of Kierkegaard. But who was he, and what did he do&amp;#160;?
Here is for you the opportunity of a free course in the work of S&oslash;ren Kierkegaard (1813-55).
You can follow his life and thought by short day-to-day readings of a choice of Kierkegaard&amp;#8217;s texts, set in the framework of his biography and his philosophical system.
The course is progressive in chronology and in the philosophical development of Kierkegaard. Still texts are sometimes inserted out of time sequence, in order to better illustrate his work.
There is great interest in Kierkegaard here and abroad. But many people are a bit afraid of approaching his work, because they find it very difficult. This I have tried to get around, and long teaching experience to different publics has shown that people can grasp Kierkegaard&amp;#8217;s thoughts when these are presented plainly and properly.
If you are not a Quaker, then Kierkegaard was not either. If you are, you will find related thoughts in his work.
Kierkegaard was not only a deep and great philosopher, but also an artist with a keen observation and a wonderful command of language, its words and rythm. I have tried, in translating, to preserve that rythm. So sometimes you will find the language form a bit strange, until you get used to it. The lengthy, uninterrupted periods are his. He thought, and wrote, like that.
It is unwise to try to rush him, skim or jump. Kierkegaard wrote in a different age, with another, more leisurely tempo. He recommends that he be read aloud, or at least slowly.
You will tolerate that some names and words are given in Danish (with translation or in obvious context). So the name Copenhagen is rightly spelt K&oslash;benhavn. Denmark is Danmark. All person names of course are Danish. They hopefully add to the atmosphere, along with the portraits inserted in appropriate places.
The course has been prepared by me, Hans Aaen, an M.A. of Nordic Literature and Philology, and a member of the Danish Quaker YM. The translation has been done for this Website course. I am sole responsible for any errors.
