Works of Love? Reflections on "Works of Love". Gene Fendt

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-281
Author(s):  
H. A. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Works Of Love

scholarly journals Towards a Kierkegaardian Retreating of the Political

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 375-392
Author(s):  
Mads Peter Karlsen
Keyword(s):  
Identity Politics ◽  
The Political ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Third ◽  
Critical Engagement ◽  
Works Of Love

AbstractThe first section of this paper argues that we can find in Kierkegaard an idea of equality, epitomized in the notion of “the neighbor” presented in Works of Love, which is highly relevant for, among other things, a critical engagement with today’s “identity politics.” The second section argues that Kierkegaard’s idea of equality is a religious-existential task, but also a task concerning our relationship with other human beings. The third section demonstrates how this idea of equality is evinced in the notion of “the neighbor.” The last section offers some reflections on how we might begin to rethink the political based on this idea of equality.

scholarly journals Love founded in God: The fruits of love in Kierkegaard’s ‘Works of love’

2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jos Huls
Keyword(s):  
Direct Relationship ◽  
The Other ◽  
Final Part ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Works Of Love ◽  
Divine Origin ◽  
Loving Relationship

This article discussed the use of the Bible in ‘Love’s hidden life and its recognizability by its fruits’, which is the first reflection of Søren Kierkegaard’s book, Works of love. Firstly, this article discussed Kierkegaard’s lack of clarity about the fruits of love, even though he stresses their divine origin. Secondly, it reflected on his argument that, even though deeds are more important than words, words remain necessary because of the need to express love to others. In a following section he points out that neither specific words nor particular works of love can demonstrate that love exists. One needs to distinguish between works of love and the attitude with which works are done. Thirdly, it pointed out how Kierkegaard argues that the inability to demonstrate love unconditionally does not negate that love is to be known by its fruits. It is rather a personal incitement to love for the sake of love itself. Noting that there is no direct relationship between the fruits of love and the actual effects our love has on others, he points to the fact that the result of love is in the hands of God. He then argues that though fruits of love may be invisible, they become apparent in the strength of our love. The only responsibility we have is to follow love as the divine movement of our heart. In the final part of his reflection, Kierkegaard notes that there is no other way to enter into the reality of love than to believe in it. This implies that one should be careful of making demands on someone in a loving relationship. What is needed is to become rooted in love as the divine source of the heart so that one will understand that this unseen reality is the foundation of existence in which one is known by the Other, whose essence is love.

Kierkegaard on Love

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Lippitt
Keyword(s):  
Divine Love ◽  
Erotic Love ◽  
Fear And Trembling ◽  
Works Of Love

This chapter offers an overview of some key themes in Kierkegaard’s writings on love. After a brief discussion of love in Either/Or and Fear and Trembling, it concentrates on Works of Love. It explores the centrality of divine love and the distinction between love of the neighbor and “preferential loves” such as erotic love and friendship, arguing that for Kierkegaard preferential loves at their best are infused with neighbor-love. It goes on to argue that Kierkegaard’s “vision” view of love anticipates aspects of contemporary such views, such as that of Troy Jollimore. But for Kierkegaard, agapic neighbor-love (and not just erotic love and friendship) requires attention to the particularities of the person loved, so neighbor-love is not just generalized benevolence. Finally, the chapter briefly sketches how the foregoing insights may be applied to the task of distinguishing proper from improper self-love.

The Divine Relationship Ethics of Kierkegaard’s Love-Sleuth in Works of Love

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Marcar
Keyword(s):  
Moral Psychology ◽  
Theological Anthropology ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Ethical Thought ◽  
Existential Anxiety ◽  
Works Of Love

Despite traditionally being characterised as a melancholy thinker with a propensity to dwell on existential anxiety, sin and despair, scholarly interest in the place of love in Søren Kierkegaard’s ethical thought is currently gaining significant traction. In particular, Kierkegaard’s Works of Love (1847) has increasingly come under the academic spotlight as a text with potentially rich and previously underappreciated insights for Christian ethics. This article aims to contribute to this ongoing illumination, by highlighting the moral psychology and theological anthropology of Kierkegaard’s Christian lover in discourses II–V of Works of Love’s second series. In doing this, I aim to put forward an overarching ethical framework which can be seen to structure these moral deliberations.

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