Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments, Volume II

367 Pages·1992·31.63 MB·English

by  Søren Kierkegaard

CONCLUDING UNSCIENTIFIC POSTSCRIPT
TO
PHILOSOPHICAL FRAGMENTS
II
VOLUME
KIERKEGAARD'S WRITINGS, XII.2

CONCLUDING
UNSCIENTIFIC POSTSCRIPT
TO PHILOSOPHICAL FRAGlWENTS
by S0ren Kierkegaard
VOLUME II: HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION,
SUPPLEMENT, NOTES, AND INDEX
Edited and Translated
by
with Introduction and Notes
Howard V. Hong and
Edna H. Hong
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
© 1992
Copyright by Howard V. Hong
by
Published Princeton University Press,
41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, Chichester, West Su.<s'"
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kierkeg(14rd, Saren, 1813-1855
[Afiluttende uvidenskabelig efierskrift.English}
by
Concluding unscientific postscript to Philosophical fragments I S.ren Kierkegaard; edited and
by H.
translated with introduction and notes Howard V. Hong and Edna Hong.
.' 12)
p. cm.-(Kierkegaards writings
Translation of Aftlutlende uvidenskabelig efimkrifi.
Includes index.
I:
ISBN 0-691-07395-3 (v alk. paper)-ISBN 0-691-02081-7 (pbk: v. 1)
2:
ISBN 0-691-02082-5 (v. alk. paper}-ISBN 0-691-02081-7 (pbk.: v. 2)
2.
1. Christianity-Philosophy. Apologetics-19th century.
1. 1912- . Jl. 1913- .
Hong, Howard Vincent, Hong, Edna Hatlestad, III. Title.
1813-1855.
IV. Series: Kierkegaard, Soren, Works.
1978; 12.
English.
B4373.A472E5 1992
201-tic20 91-4093
Preparation of this volume has been made possible in part by a gram from
the Division ofR esearch Programs of the National Endowment
for the Humanities, an independent ftderal agency
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CONTENTS
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION Vll
SUPPLEMENT
Key to References 2
Original Title Page of
Concluding Unscientific Postscript to
Philosophical Fragments 4
Selected Entries from Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers
Pertaining to
Concluding Unscientific Postscript to
Philosophical Fragments 7
EDITORIAL ApPENDIX 169
Acknowledgments 171
Collation of
Concluding Unscientific Postscript to
Philosophical Fragments in the Danish Editions of
Kierkegaard's Collected Works 173
Notes 181
Bibliographical Note 283
Index 285

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
Toward the end of Johannes Climacus1
Philosophical Fragments,
states: "In the next section of this pamphlet, ifI ever do write
it, I intend to call the matter by its proper name and clothe the
issue in its historical costume. If I ever do write a second sec
tion-because a pamphlet writer such as I am has no serious
ness, as you presumably will hear about me-why, then,
should I now in conclusion pretend seriousness in order to
please people by making a rather big promise? In other words,
to write a pamphlet is frivolity-but to promise the system,
that is seriousness and has made many a man a supremely se
rious man both in his own eyes and in the eyes of others."2
The second section of the pamphlet became
Concluding Un
Philosophical Fragments and appeared
scientific Postscript to
February 28, 1846, scarcely twenty-one months after the triple
publication of (June 13, 1844),
Fragments The Concept of Anx
(June 17, 1844), and (June 17, 1844). According
iety Prefaces
to the statement in the copious clothed counterpart
Fragments,
that eventually became was obviously on the agenda,
Postscript
and to write such a substantial work in a period of less than
two years would scarcely constitute literary loitering. To
maintain the appearance of an idler,3 however, in order to aid
in masking the pseudonymity begun with Kier-
Either/Or,4
I On the origin of the name of the pseudonymous author, see Historical
Introduction, pp. ix-x,
Philosophical Fragments, or A Fragment of Philosophy,
KWVII.
p. 109, VII (S IV 270-71).
2 Fragments, KW V
3 See, for example, The Point of View for My Work as an Author in The Point
XXII XIII V 5614; VI 6332 IV A 45; X5 A
of View, KW (SV 547);JP (Pap.
153). See also Andrew Hamilton, I-II (Lon
Sixteen Months in the Danish Isles,
don: 1852), II, p. 269: "The fact is and generally in
he walks about town all day,
some person's company .... When walking, he is very communicative."
4 Postscript was the last of the works of "indirect communication" by pseud
onymous editors and authors. First came (1843, Victor Eremita),
Either/Or
followed by (1843, Johannes de Silentio),
Fear and Trembling Repetition (1843,
Vl11 Historical Introduction
kegaard, while writing and other works, continued
Postscript
to be Copenhagen's premier peripatetic, made a journey to
Berlin, and averaged an excursion to points on Sja:lland about
every ten days. There were also three intervening publica
tions: (August 31, 1844),
Four Upbuilding Discourses Three Dis
(April 29, 1845), and
courses on Imagined Occasions Stages on
(April 30, 1845). In addition, the writing of
Life's Way Two
was begun late in 1845. Despite the brevity of time and
Ages
the amazingly prolific productivity during that period of
twenty-one months, the writing of involved
Postscript
sketches, a provisional draft, a second draft, and a final copy.
"The entire manuscript, lock, stock, and barrel, was deliv
ered to the printer December, or thereabouts, 1845."5
media
Within about two months (including the long Christmas and
New Year holiday period), the type was hand set, first and
second page proofs were printed and corrected, type correc
tions were made, and the volumes were printed, bound, and
delivered to the bookstore-in its own way a feat comparable
to the writing of the manuscript. In order not to interfere with
the process, Kierkegaard withheld a desired addition.6 At the
last moment, "A First and Last Explanation" was delivered for
inclusion on unnumbered pages at the end of the volume. The
"Explanation," Kierkegaard's public assumption of juridical
and literary responsibility for the pseudonymous works from
to had been "dashed off on a piece of pa
Either/Or Postscript,7
per in the original manuscript but was laid aside to be worked
out in detail and was delivered as late as possible lest it lie
around and get lost in a print shop."8
Constantin Constantius), (1844, Johannes Climacus),
Philosophical Fragments
(1844, Vigilius Haufniensis), (1844, Nicolaus
The Concept of Anxiety Prefaces
Notabene), and (1845, Hilarius Bookbinder).
Sta.szes on Life'S Way
s V 5871 VIII A 2). See also Supplement, pp. 2.116-18 VII'
]P (Pap. (Pap.
B 69, 71).
6 See]P V 5871 (Pap. VIII A 2); Supplement, pp. 2,68-70 (pap. VIII B 81:1,
83,84).
7 See pp. [1.625-30]; Supplement, p. 2.168 (Pap. X6 B 145).
V 5871 VIII A 2).
8]P (Pap.
Historical Introduction IX
The initial title in outlines of what became was "Log
Postscript
ical Issues."9 The first outline had eight headings, of which no.
4 was "On the leap," no. 5 "On the difference between a dia
lectical and pathos-filled transition," no. 6 "All historical
knowledge is only approximation," and no. 8 "What is exis
tence." Others were on the nature and historical significance
of a category. A later outlinelO under the same title included
"by Johannes Climacus ... a preface about
Philosophical Frag
and "Something about the Art of Religious Address."
ments,"
Other headings were "God's Judgment I A Story of Suffering
I Imaginary Psychological Construction" and "Writing Sam
pler / Apprentice Test Piece." Some of the themes from each
outline were developed in others were omitted, and
Postscript,
the title was changed to
Concluding Unscientific Postscript.
The self-ironizing of calling a pamphlet is ex
Fragments
tended by calling its successor a "postscript," an addendum
that is over five times as long as its base, an afterthought that
quintuples the original thought. Likewise, the self-minimiz
ing of the title is repeated by calling a
Fragments Postscript
"compilation," although its varied contents have a substantial
internal coherence. Climacus calls himself a humorist, and
II
the work in many ways both exemplifies and discusses hu
mor, but he himself as author and his new book are the objects
of self-irony, a close cousin of humor.
The term "unscientific" is an accurate translation of the
Danish but because of the narrowness peculiar
uvidenskabelig,
to the Anglo-American word "science" it needs a wider defi
nition that includes all kinds of scholarship. A clue to the use
of "unscientific" in the title is a journal entry with the heading
because "there can be
Concluding Simple Postscript-"simple"
no schoolmaster, strictly understood, in the art of existing .
. . . With respect to existing, there is only the learner, for any
one who fancies that he is in this respect finished, that he can
See Supplement, p. 2.7 VI 13 13).
Y (Pap.
1U See Supplement, pp. 2.7-8 (Pap. VI A 146).
11 See pp. 1.617-18.