Posted on 03/25/2007 11:55:51 AM PDT by AlbionGirl
This is a deeply personal work which exists semantically on two distinct planes. Ostensibly it is about the "teleological suspension of the ethical", that is, the suspension of the moral law for the sake of a higher law. Kierkegaard cites Genesis, where Abraham is commanded by God to kill his son Isaac. Although God must be obeyed, murder is immoral (it is not technically against the Mosaic law since it had not yet been delivered—but no matter, it is against our conscience). The ethical is thus suspended for a higher goal (telos).
On another level, this work is about his failed engagement to Regine Olsen. He is Abraham and she is Isaac, whom he must sacrifice, that is, divorce himself from, since he deems himself unfit for her—although some commentators reverse their roles. The personal aspect of Kierkegaard's writings is sometimes seen as a shortcoming. The fact that a work can exist on more than level is simply part of the author's genius.
As Either/Or is concerned with the esthetic and the ethical, Fear and Trembling is concerned with the ethical and the religious. Kierkegaard attempted to undermine uncritical repose in the ethical, but has sometimes been interpreted as paving the way to nihilism. It is not necessary, however, to take this position.
(Excerpt) Read more at sorenkierkegaard.org ...
What Tarquinius Superbus said in the garden by means of the poppies, the son understood but the messenger did not (p. 3).H. Hong provides background for this quote.
When the son of Tarquinius Superbus had craftily gotten Gabii in his power, he sent a messenger to his father asking what he should do with the city. Tarquinius, not trusting the messenger, gave no reply but took him into the garden, where with his cane he cut off the flowers of the tallest poppies. The son understood from this that he should eliminate the leading men of the city. See Valerius Maximus.... A similar story about Periander is found in Aristotle.... The epigraph is discussed by G. E. Lessing... (p. 339).
The manifest content of the act of cutting poppies, that is, the felling of one's enemies, is not of consequence here. Kierkegaard's emphasis would seem to be that an act can have an entirely different meaning for someone who is privy to special knowledge. The son understood because of his special relationship to his father. Similarly, the man of faith will see the same data that a regular man will see, but he will see something else there, because of his faith. To a "normal" person, Abraham attempts murder. Through the eyes of faith, he is obeying God. The father-son relationship is significant too.
Ping. Mostly in case you weren't aware of the site.
It is commonly supposed that what faith produces is no work of art, that it is a coarse and boorish piece of work, only for the more uncouth natures, but it is far from being that. The dialectic of faith is the finest and most extraordinary of all; it has an elevation of which I can certainly form a conception, but no more than that. I can make the mighty trampoline leap whereby I cross over into infinity; my back like a tightrope dancer's, twisited in my childhood, and therefore it is easy for me. One, two, three -I can walk upside down in existence, but I cannot make the next movement, for the marvelous I cannot do -I can only be amazed at it. Indeed, if Abraham the moment he swung his leg over the ass's back, had said to himself: Now Isaac is lost, I could just as well sacrifice him here at home as ride the long way to Moriah -then I do not need Abraham, whereas now I bow seven times to his name and seventy to his deed. This he did not do, as I can prove by his really fervent joy on receiving Isaac and by his needing no preparation and no time to rally to finitude and its joy. If it had been otherwise with Abraham, he perhaps would have loved God but would not have had faith, for he who loves God without faith reflects upon himself; he who loves God in faith reflects upon God.
I don't always agree, but I always admire.
Oh, brother....
Me too. To me he seems consumed with the imitation of Christ.
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