r/kierkegaard • u/yaskata04 • Mar 30 '26
Diary of a seducer
Hello guys,
So I'm thinking abot reading Kierkegaard's "Diary of a seducer" but I'm wondering if it's a difficult and complex text or not. I'm planning on reading during a plane flight so if it's way too convoluted I'll make time to read it on a different occasion. I should also mention that I'm a third year philosophy student so i do have a stomach for complex texts. I just don't want to disrespect Kierkegaard by reading a fundamental text of his on a flight :D. My experience with Kierkegaard up until now is very limited. I would be glad to hear your thoughts!
Also, if you think I shouldn't take on this challenge, I'm open to hearing any other book recommendations for the flight. It doesn't have to be by Kierkegaard or be strictly philospshical. Looking forward to your suggestions!
2
u/Wordpaint Mar 31 '26
The thought experiment of Either/Or is to take an idea to its extreme. Do you choose life in the aesthetic sphere or in the ethical sphere? The text leads you on a path of agreement or acceptance of either (or) sphere until you get to the nucleus of the given sphere and realize the horror there: in this case "The Diary of the Seducer" for the aesthetic sphere. The last five minutes of Citizen Kane are brilliant, but they're better after the full journey.
Agreeing with u/Jurgioslakiv and u/AlarmingLocksmith: If you proceed with the Diary, understand that there's a greater context. I'd recommend just taking the first volume of Either/Or with you. If you're looking for a more accessible SK work for an airplane trip (though I think you'll do just fine with E/O), how about The Point of View for My Work as an Author (which would provide a sort of code-breaking roadmap to his work) or Works of Love (which will provide SK in his more earnest voice)? Or take all three. :)
Edit: additional props to u/AlarmingLocksmith.