Chapter 3, Two Edifying Discourses Summary and Analysis

For Kierkegaard, only the truth that teaches and builds up the human person is the truth worth having. He writes on these matters towards the end of Either/Or and so sets up a theme for much of his later work. Some of the later works are "aesthetic" and are written under fantastic pseudonyms. However, the two of these "edifying discourses" that comprise the third chapter are published under Kierkegaard's own name. This indicates that the details of these discourses indicate the most truth he is aware of when he writes them.

Kierkegaard's pseudonymous writing only tells of part of his thoughts of aspects of his philosophy. Often discerning which aspects of Kierkegaard's views are contained in these writings is difficult. He is much more a poet in these works than a philosopher or theologian...