Thesis (Ph.D.)--Baylor University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 264-274).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Baylor University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 266-278).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Villanova University, 2006. / Philosophy Dept. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A. (Philosophy))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

My thesis is an argument that writing is a struggle of imprisonment and freedom. I argue that a text gains a certain level of power, such that it controls the writer, reader, and critic alike. Yet at the same time, the work presents all of these people with a possibility of freedom, seducing them in with the task of sharing the text's `secret' or deeper meaning via indirect communication. This `imprisonment' is voluntary if the reader wishes to engage with the text in a way that opens the text for a revelation of a deeper meaning, unique to each reader. The writer offers his text as a `gift', an idea heavily influenced by Jacques Derrida's writings in The Gift of Death. I argue that that the presence and absence of the secret is one element of the author's work, which creates the relationship of confinement and freedom identified with writing.

En esta breve sección introductoria, me permitiré obviar una reseña biográfica de Kierkegaard, ya que las fuentes en español son diversas y relativamente accesibles. Me dedicaré, en cambio, a bosquejar parte del pensamiento religioso de este autor, junto con detallar las posturas que se defenderán en las páginas sucesivas.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / The intention of this thesis is to dwell on three small, specific texts in the work Either/Or from Danish Soren Aybe Kierkegaard (1813-1855). The first two texts are The erotic immediate states and Seducer's Diary, and are among the texts of the first part of the aforementioned book. The third text entitled The balance between the esthetical and the ethical in shaping the personality and belongs to the second part of the same book. The basis of a detailed explanation of the contents of these texts intends to consider the issue of Kierkegaardian stages (aesthetic, ethical and religious) and how they relate to the existence and consciousness. Within the concrete existence, the question of consciousness appears to the Danish philosopher from the explanation of these three existential dimensions, which are constituted in line with affective provisions and also with material modes of living and acting closely described by the daily existence of character. Bereft, initially, of any determination, the conscience will be materializing itself stemming from its sensitive existence, which keeps different moments and possibilities of its own. The basic thesis being discussed in this context is that these existential moments cannot be considered an evolutionary process, but must be taken as possibilities or ways of life, with its positivity and its risks. This study aims to show how the current readings of Kierkegaard's philosophy tend to value the ethical and moral development of stadiums and ignore the dimension of being more original, the immediate dimension which, when neglected, creates a gap between man and himself. / Essa dissertação pretende deter-se sobre três pequenos e específicos textos constantes da obra Ou... Ou, do dinamarquês Sören Aybe Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Os dois primeiros textos são Os estados eróticos imediatos e Diário do Sedutor, e estão entre os textos da primeira parte do livro supracitado; o terceiro texto intitula-se O equilíbrio entre o estético e o ético na formação da personalidade e pertence à segunda parte do mesmo livro. Partindo de uma explicitação detalhada do conteúdo destes textos pretende-se pensar a questão dos estádios kierkegaardianos (estético, ético e religioso) e a forma como estes se relacionam com a existência e a consciência. No âmbito da existência concreta, a questão da consciência aparece para o filósofo dinamarquês a partir da explanação destas três dimensões existenciais, as quais se constituem em sintonia com disposições afetivas e também com modos materiais de viver e agir, detidamente descritos pela existência cotidiana de personagens. Desprovida, inicialmente, de qualquer determinação, a consciência vai se concretizando a partir de sua existência sensível, que guarda constantemente diferentes momentos ou possibilidades próprias. A tese fundamental a ser discutida, neste contexto, é a de que esses momentos existenciais não podem ser considerados de forma evolutiva, mas precisam ser tomados como possibilidades ou formas de vida, com sua positividade e seus riscos. O trabalho pretende mostrar de que forma as leituras correntes da filosofia de Kierkegaard tendem a enaltecer o aspecto ético e moral dos estádios, acabando por ignorar a dimensão mais originária do ser, qual seja, a dimensão da disposição imediata que, ao ser desprezada, abre um flanco entre o homem e ele mesmo.

The study of history and philosophy reveals that there have been as many systems of morality as there have been distinct civilizations, and that doubts about morality are inevitable. From growing apathy towards political life to increasing cultural acceptance and toleration of what might be considered immorality in every aspect of society, in today’s modern world it is difficult not to notice these doubts creeping into our way of life. This vacuum of values and tendency towards a weariness and indifference towards life is what is generally called Nihilism. Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy illustrated perhaps the clearest expression of what he calls “the great danger to mankind . . . a retrospective weariness, the will turning against life, the tender and sorrowful signs of the ultimate illness . . . nihilism” (3). The problem that Nietzsche sets up can be responded to in many ways, however one of the most common is the Hegelian solution that suggests we can imbue content into our values through our universal recognition and our social life. Despite the appeal of this approach, the problem of nihilism remains intact given the contradictions within Hegelian idealism that Nietzsche’s broader theories make apparent. The most promising resolution of the problem of nihilism in fact comes from Soren Kierkegaard, who is able to respond to Nietzsche’s challenges, as well as solve the issues inherent in the Hegelian solution. Kierkegaard’s emphasis on the paradox of faith and on existence creates the basis for his conclusion. He ultimately claims that through a passionate embrace of the paradoxical infinite (faith), which constitutes the essential nature of his conception of inwardness, our values can indeed be real, meaningful, and can give our lives purpose: thereby saving humanity from the nefarious threat of nihilism.

Tesis para optar al grado de Doctor en Filosofía con Mención en Filosofía Moral y Política