The Category of Love as Duty

a comparative analysis of christian love and human love in Kierkegaard’s thought

Authors

  • Douglas Ferreira Barros Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas - PUC-Campinas
  • Sorel Celeste Tavarnez PUC-Campinas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23925/2236-9937.2023v30p58-87

Keywords:

Kierkegaard, Christian Love, Loving One’s Neighbor, Duty, Commandment

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the category of love as duty based on the thinking of Søren Kierkegaard and the philosopher's considerations regarding Christian love in comparison to human love. In order to understand the concept of duty as an essential element conditioned to the practice of Christian love according to Kierkegaard, and to comprehend how this principle is expressed through Christianity's greatest commandment, we will examine passages from the book Works of Love (1847), considered one of the greatest manifestos of love ever written and published, its reflection on love has revolutionized the approach to the subject in both philosophy and literature, and analyze how the pre-determination of love by God would enable the human being to fulfill the love for their neighbor in their existence. In our research, we found that, according to the philosopher, Christian love is solely realized as duty, while the neighbor reveals itself in any and every individual who presents themselves into existence for the one seeking to love their fellow being. Thus, the Christian's ultimate purpose for Kierkegaard is to become a neighbor to their neighbor, as wherever there is a neighbor, love will always be necessary.

Author Biographies

Douglas Ferreira Barros, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas - PUC-Campinas

Doutor em Filosofia pela Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Professor de Filosofia da Faculdade de Filosofia e do corpo permanente do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Religião na Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-Campinas). Contato:
douglasfbarros@gmail.com;
dfbarros@puc-campinas.edu.br

Sorel Celeste Tavarnez, PUC-Campinas

Mestra em Ciências da Religião pela PUC-Campinas. Licenciada em Filosofia pela PUC-Campinas. E-mail: sorelct@gmail.com

References

ADORNO, Theodor W. Kierkegaard: Construção do Estético. São Paulo: Editora Unesp, 2010.

BÍBLIA. Português. A Bíblia de Jerusalém. São Paulo: Ed. Paulus, 2002.

FREUD, Sigmund. Edição standard brasileira das obras psicológicas completas de Sigmund Freud (Vol. XII). Rio de Janeiro: Imago, 1980.

KIERKEGAARD, Søren Aabye. As Obras do Amor: Algumas Considerações Cristãs em Forma de Discursos. 4. ed. Petrópolis: Vozes, 2013.

KIERKEGAARD, Søren Aabye. O Conceito de Angústia. 3. ed. Petrópolis: Vozes, 2013.

KIERKEGAARD, Søren Aabye. Practice in Christianity: Kierkegaard's Writings, Vol 20. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991.

KIERKEGAARD, Søren Aabye. The Sickness unto Death: a Christian Psychological Exposition for Edification and Awakening by Anti-Climacus. London: Penguin Books Limited, 2004.

VALLS, Álvaro Luiz Montenegro. Entre Sócrates e Cristo: Ensaios Sobre a Ironia e o Amor em Kierkegaard. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, 2000.

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Published

2023-10-13

How to Cite

Barros, D. F., & Tavarnez, S. C. (2023). The Category of Love as Duty: a comparative analysis of christian love and human love in Kierkegaard’s thought. TEOLITERARIA - Revista De Literaturas E Teologias, 13(30), 58–87. https://doi.org/10.23925/2236-9937.2023v30p58-87

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 30 (2023): Aproximações e interpelações diversas da literatura sobre tempo e eternidade, amor e ódio, identidade humana e animalidade, espiritualidade e prática ao fazer teológico

Section

Artigos

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Copyright (c) 2023 Teoliteraria - Journal of Literatures and Theologies (On Line) ISSN 2236-9937

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