Three Discourses on Imagined Occasions was among seven signed works by Kierkegaard, each published concurrently with one of his seven pseudonymous works - in this case, with Stages on Life's Way. The two volumes not only have a chronological relation but distinctively treat some common themes. It is quite possible, the editors suggest, that Kierkegaard worked alternatively on the two manuscripts: on Stages at his ordinary desk and on Discourses on Imagined Occasions at his high desk. The first of the three discourses, "On the Occasion of a Confession", centers on stillness, wonder, and the ultimate object of a human being's seeking - in contrast to the speechmaking on erotic love in "'In Vino Veritas, '" part one of Stages. The second discourse, "On the Occasion of a Wedding", complements the second part of Stages in which Judge William delivers a panegyric on marriage. The third discourse, "At a Graveside", sharpens the ethical and religious earnestness implicit in Quidam's "A Story of Suffering", in the third part of the other work.

Three Discourses on Imagined Occasions was the last of seven works signed by Kierkegaard and published simultaneously with an anonymously authored companion piece. Imagined Occasions both complements and stands in contrast to Kierkegaard's pseudonymously published Stages on Life's Way. The two volumes not only have a chronological relation but treat some of the same distinct themes. The first of the three discourses, "On the Occasion of a Confession," centers on stillness, wonder, and one's search for God--in contrast to the speechmaking on erotic love in "In Vino Veritas," part one of Stages. The second discourse, "On the Occasion of a Wedding," complements the second part of Stages, in which Judge William delivers a panegyric on marriage. The third discourse, "At a Graveside," sharpens the ethical and religious earnestness implicit in Stages's "'Guilty'/'Not Guilty'" and completes this collection.

An anthology containing substantial excerpts from the Danish philosopher's major works.

Upbuilding or edification, is the central theme of Soren Kierkegaard's authorship: only the truth that builds up is truth for you (E02:354). Somewhere along the way, Soren Kierkegaard developed a plan to publish some upbuilding discourses to 'accompany his pseudonymous works. These Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses are the focus of the edifying commentaries in this volume.

Prefaces was the last of four books by Søren Kierkegaard to appear within two weeks in June 1844. Three Upbuilding Discourses and Philosophical Fragments were published first, followed by The Concept of Anxiety and its companion--published on the same day--the comically ironic Prefaces. Presented as a set of prefaces without a book to follow, this work is a satire on literary life in nineteenth-century Copenhagen, a lampoon of Danish Hegelianism, and a prefiguring of Kierkegaard's final collision with Danish Christendom. Shortly after publishing Prefaces, Kierkegaard began to prepare Writing Sampler as a sequel. Writing Sampler considers the same themes taken up in Prefaces but in yet a more ironical and satirical vein. Although Writing Sampler remained unpublished during his lifetime, it is presented here as Kierkegaard originally envisioned it, in the company of Prefaces.

In the history of Kierkegaard reception scholars have predominantly focused on the pseudonymous works. Thus, while there are long traditions of research on well known pseudonymous works, such as Either/Or and The Sickness unto Death, scholarship on the edifying discourses is still at the pioneering stage. In an effort to bring this other, neglected half of Kierkegaard's authorship into focus, this volume of the Yearbook is dedicated specifically to the edifying discourses from 1843 44 and to Three Discourses on Imagined Occasions, from 1845. It features articles from leading international scholars on various aspects of these discourses, which are explored from literary, philosophical and theological perspectives. A series of articles has also been included on the history of reception of these edifying discourses in the various countries and language groups. The Yearbook also includes individual sections containing papers from recent international seminars on Kierkegaard's thought. One section provides a glimpse into the most recent work from the rich tradition of French Kierkegaard research. Another section includes leading papers from recent Hungarian Kierkegaard scholarship. These contributions serve to make this number of the Yearbook the most international to date and are proof of the growing interest in international Kierkegaard research.

An exploration of the themes that unite Kierkegaard's religious and philosophical writings centred on his understanding of the life of the individual.