Either/Or by Søren Kierkegaard - Main Concepts

Overview

"Either/Or" (1843) is Kierkegaard's exploration of two fundamental life approaches through the perspectives of two pseudonymous authors: the aesthete "A" and the ethicist Judge William.

1. The Aesthetic Stage

The first stage of existence characterized by immediate pleasure-seeking, living in the moment, and avoiding commitment. The aesthete pursues novelty, beauty, and sensual experiences without deeper reflection.

• Life = maximize(pleasure(t))

2. The Ethical Stage

The second stage of existence where one commits to universal moral principles, duty, and social responsibilities. This involves choosing oneself as a moral being and accepting the weight of decision-making.

• Commitment over impulse
• Continuity
• Stable Identity

3. The Either/Or Choice

The fundamental existential choice between living aesthetically (pleasure-focused) or ethically (duty-focused). This choice cannot be made rationally but requires a passionate leap of decision.

Argument in favor of it

high semantic-density symbol

Wholesome

Existential valence

The Self definition [experiential]

Step 1 — Define the variables

Let’s name the pieces explicitly.

• A = actual self
  → your lived life, actions, habits, concrete existence

• I = ideal self
  → who you think you should be, your values, possibilities

• R(x, y) = relation between x and y
  → awareness, evaluation, responsibility, judgment

  • To relate is to be consciously positioned toward something — to interpret it, care about it, evaluate it, and hold oneself answerable in relation to it.

• [First-order relating] Relating between your actual self and ideal self

• [Second-order relating] Relating your Relating between your actual self and ideal self