Kierkegaard's Writings, XII: Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments, Volume I: Concluding Unscientific Postscript to "Philosophical Fragments" v. 12, Pt. 1 [Paperback]

This is Kierkegaard's most important work - the real meat of his writings. It is more difficult then most of his works and should be approached with caution, but it is absolutely essential to achieve a full understanding of Kierkegaard. Keep in mind that _Concluding Unscientific Postscript_ was originally written under the pseudonym of Johannes Climacus, the sceptical and pessimistic alter ego of the real Kierkegaard. Not to spoil the surprise, but in reading this book you should remember that much of what is being said is contradictory to Kierkegaard's real beliefs. In my experience reading this book, I only began to realize this gradually. This is because not EVERYTHING in this book is antithetical or diametrically opposed to Kierkegaard's real views; only portions of it are antithetical. Kierkegaard truly engages and challenges the reader by exposing views that make sense at first, but then after letting Climacus get riled up, his rantings and ravings become increasingly illogical and pessimistic. The challenge consists in discovering where the real Kierkegaard leaves off, and where the pseudonymous Johannes Climacus picks up. The reader must constantly be on alert for antithetical and contradictory statements, and must approach this book with a highly critical mindset. The end result is one of the most fantastically thought-provoking, creative, original, and entertaining books you will ever read. By forcing the reader to take this critical approach, Kierkegaard gives us an opportunity to formulate and fortify our individual beliefs in contradistinction to those of Climacus, forcing us to truly think for ourselves. The reader is bombarded with profound philosophical statements which are oten true and sensible, and can be proven consitsent with Kierkegaard's real beliefs. But sandwiched between these logical statements, Climacus will say something so off the wall that the reader must subject these statements to a critical re-evaluation. This is what makes the _Postscript_ such a profoundly thought-provoking and personally enriching experience.

One more thing to consider before you read this book: As I said, this book was written under the pseudonym Johannes Climacus. To fully understand the inner workings of this character, you must also read _Philosophical Fragments/Johannes Climacus_, which is the precursor to _Concluding Unscientific Postscript_. This first book helps the reader understand the pseudonymous and sometimes antithetical beliefs held by Kierkegaard's neurotic alter-ego. Taken together, the _Johannes Climacus/Philosophical Fragments/ Conlcuding Unscientific Postscript_ series is the be-all end-all philosophical work of the 19th century. It is a monumental achievement of epic proportions and will go down in history as the most important and profound work of literature to come out of Europe during that time period.

Be warned! The Princeton edition of this book comes in two volumes. Volume 1 is just the body of text to Kierkegaard's book. There is no historical introduction in the first volume, just Kierkegaard's satirical introduction that was intended for the original book. The historical introduction and scholarly apparatus are in the second volume. If the reader does not wish to inquire beyond Kierkegaard's text, he need not worry, the second volume is for the person who did not find Kierkegaard mind numbing enough and sees need to go behind the text. I am one of those kind of people, but you might not be.

This work is a must have for students of Philosophy and of Kierkegaard.
Reading it is extremely challenging, and it is an unusually dense text. Kierkegaard, in my estimation, had no intention that this text would be easy to work through.

What follows is a review (sort of). The "review" is heavily informed by my ownn undertanding or misudertanding of this text as it relates to Kierkegaard's overall authroship. It also has a plot spoiler kind of feel to it. If you don't like plot spoilers, just get the text. It is well worth the money and the time and the energy it will take to make any sense out of it.

There are probably a couple of ways of coming at this text. The first would be to just read it. It would not hurt, and it might be quite instructive, to read Philosophical Fragments first. The Postscript is just that...a Postscript to the Philosophical Fragments (a really long, and "Concluding Unscientific" postscript.) Kierkegaard would be pleased if he knew he found a solitary reader that would take this text as something to be grappled with in and off itself. And in many respects, it is just that. That being said, Kierkegaard deliberately obfuscates things by writing this text under the pseudonym Johannes Climacus. In doing so, he feels he has given himself freedom to say that the contents of the Postscript are not necessarily the beliefs of Kierkegaard himself (but rather they are those of Johannes Climacus). Knowing this, while reading the text, leaves one constantly wondering where Kierkegaard comes down in relation to the ideas put forth by Climacus. Hence, a second, although perhaps less rewarding, way of reading the text is possible. Read Kierkegaard's The Point of View for my Work as an Author before you read this. Why?
This is by no means the only pseudonymous work of Kierkegaard. His has many pseudonymous texts with multiple pseudonyms. Not all of his works are pseudonymous. There are some signed works that he is willing to affirm, it would seem, are expressive of his own ideas. The signed works deal more explicitly with some of Kierkegaard's theological concerns. Why does Kierkegaard write two different kinds of texts? In the Point of View for My Work as an author, he seems to be saying the following.(****and if you don't like plot spoilers, stop reading****) "Ok guys, here what I've been up to all this time. In short...I'm frustrated with my contemporaries. They treat Luther's notion of justification by grace alone through faith alone as something easy to understand; furthermore, it seems like the doctrine itslef is making them passive about the Christian faith (when it shouild actually make them more active). My desire is that they not cheapen the doctrine in such a way. Furthermore, my desire is that they feel a new awe and passion...and desire to live out the Gospel because of this doctrine. Because they are so hard headed, or asleep, I can't just approach them directly about this. I have to indirectly communicate with them. That is...I almost have to lure...if not deceive them into thinking they are entering a discussion about one thing, when in reality the discussion is about the aforementioned. Hence, my use of pseudonyms who discuss a wide range of topics from a variety of vantage points. Furthermore, while I've been releasing the pseudonymous works year after year, I've also been releasing my signed works, where I communicate more directly. My hope is that the one-two punch of the signed and pseudonymous texts may help my fellow Danes, whom I love deeply, take their faith and the works of love it should be producing seriously again." To sum up Kierkegaard's Point of View for My Work as an Author in such a way doesn't feel quite right. It feels downright wrong. That being said, the aforementioned is basically what he is saying in The Point of View. If you know this going into a reading of the Concluding Unscientific Postscript, then you clearly read the Postscript differently (like you know a secret) and with what Kierkegaard fears will be with less passion. He published the Point of View for a reason, however, and it is fitting, in a review of the Postscript, to make reference to the Point of View.
Simply put (and there really isn't anything simple about the Postscript), the text indirectly deals with the theological issues that Kierkegaard himself feels extremely passionate about. As I wind down this review, I feel like I've cheapened Kierkegaard's efforts. I should stress that none of what has been said to this point should cause any prospective reader to be dismissive of this text or any of the other pseudonymous works. Kierkegaard is one of the forerunners of post-modernity and he's generally considered to be the father of modern existentialism. He's a major player in what is going on in our world of ideas right now (as is Nietzsche). Understating exactly why these things are so will take a level of grappling with the entire Kierkegaardian authorship (and works like the Postscript) that would please Kierkegaard.
If one is a student of philosophy, theology, a/theology, post-modernity, existentialism, or life (for that matter) this is a monumental text. It's a challenging read, but more than worth the challenge. A mentor of mine once told me: "Read the Concluding Unscientific Postscript to the Philosophical Fragments" and then go back and read the Gospel of John. You'll never be the same." I had no clue what he meant...not before I read the text...and not for a second while I was beating my head against the wall reading The Postscript. I did it anyway. My mentor was right.