Cracking the mirror: on Kierkegaard's concerns about friendship

Author: Lippitt, John

Source: International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Volume 61, Number 3, June 2007 , pp. 131-150(20)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

In this article, I offer a brief account of some of Kierkegaard's key concerns about friendship: its “preferential” nature and its being a form of self-love. Kierkegaard's endorsement of the ancient idea of the friend as “second self” involves a common but misguided assumption: that friendship depends largely upon likeness between friends. This focus obscures a vitally important element, highlighted by the so-called “drawing” view of friendship. Once this is emphasized, we can see a significant aspect - though by no means all - of Kierkegaard's worry as misplaced. However, the “drawing” view also enables us to begin to see what a “Kierkegaardian” friendship might look like.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11153-007-9117-x

Affiliations: 1: Email: j.a.lippitt@herts.ac.uk

Publication date: 2007-06-01