The temptation of love

Author: S?ren Kierkegaard
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: The two short essays introduced here are both from Kierkegaard's renowned work Either/Or. They are his famous discussions on love, particularly the allure of love as an inevitable force. In Kierkegaard's view, love, as an inevitable force of human authenticity, exerts an irresistible allure upon individuals. The significance of love, therefore, lies in the manifestation or awakening of this authentic force. The Stages of Direct Love or the Music of Love explores how this authentic force erupts directly; The Diary of a Seducer, on the other hand, describes how this authentic force of love unfolds through conscious seduction by recounting a romantic story. In the former, the authentic force of love is revealed in a direct, unmediated manner, thus sharing a commonality with music—even language cannot intervene. In the latter, the awakening of the love force is deliberate and reflective, and it is recorded in language, making it non-direct and mediated. The former discusses the direct manifestation of love, while the latter describes the love process at the level of consciousness.