Abstract

Kierkegaard's passionate, witty essay on his own age, its lack of passion, humor, action, etc., is introduced equally passionately by Walter Kaufmann, whose animadversions on our own age are well worth the price of the book. If there is such a thing as virtuoso existentialist writing, the introduction is an example. Both Kierkegaard and Kaufmann feel that the essential question of "the present age" is, "Why do something rather than nothing at all?" In addition to the title essay, there is a shorter "ethico-religious" one, "Of the Difference between a Genius and an Apostle." Both have been previously published, but Mr. Dru has revised the translations.--C. D.