‘Fear and Trembling’ is aptly named because that’s exactly what it inspired in me, everytime I steeled myself to pick it up again and do my best not to fall asleep.
Apparently Kirkegaard’s philosophy of a ‘leap of faith’ comes from this text. This is the inspiring idea that we must make our own nature - the essence of existentialism. However reading this you’d have no bloody idea.
The analogies and metaphors are littered throughout, but whether they refer to knights or mermaids who knows what kind of a point they’re trying to elucidate. Kirkegaard intermittently quotes ancient Greek, which as far as I can tell, is entirely irrelevant to the analysis.
The beginning of the book is fascinating and gripping to be sure. We go through the biblical tale of Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac through many different lenses of different thoughts Abraham could have had, and actions he may have taken. The complexity of this terrible and great choice slowly sinks in here. Yet it’s still not enough to get you through ‘Problema I - A Teleological Study…’.
I only give this book so many stars because I feel like most of the fault lies within myself. In writing ‘Fear and Trembling’, Kirkegaard surely thought too much of his neighbours.