Kierkegaard, Mimesis, and Modernity: A Study of Imitation, Existence, and Affect

This book challenges the view of Kierkegaard's idiosyncratic and predominantly religious position on mimesis and offers a nuanced understanding of the relation between aesthetics and religion in his thought. It demonstrates how Kierkegaard's dialectical-existential reading of mimesis interlaces aesthetic and religious themes, including imitation, repetition, admiration, affectivity, contagion, and crowd behavior. The book's enduring relevance to the malaises of our own day is established by his classic concern for the meaning of human life informed by reflective meditation on the mimetic origins of the contemporary age.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book presents a groundbreaking exploration of Kierkegaard's complex and multifaceted perspective on mimesis, challenging the prevailing notion that his thought is solely idiosyncratic and religious. By examining mimesis as a central conceptual framework in Kierkegaard's writings, the book offers a nuanced understanding of the intricate relationship between aesthetics and religion. Through a dialectical-existential lens, Kaftanski demonstrates how Kierkegaard's interpretation of mimesis intertwines aesthetic and religious themes, encompassing familiar concepts such as imitation, repetition, and admiration, as well as emerging notions such as affectivity, contagion, and crowd behavior. By delving into the mimetic origins of the contemporary age, Kierkegaard's enduring relevance to the malaises of our own time is firmly established.

Kierkegaard, Mimesis, and Modernity is a valuable resource for scholars and advanced students engaged in the study of Kierkegaard, Continental philosophy, the history of aesthetics, and critical and religious studies. Chapter 6 of this book is available for free download as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com. This chapter is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license, allowing for widespread dissemination and reuse.

In conclusion, Kierkegaard, Mimesis, and Modernity offers a profound and thought-provoking exploration of Kierkegaard's complex and multifaceted perspective on mimesis. By challenging the conventional understanding of his thought, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the relationship between aesthetics and religion in Kierkegaard's writings. This book will be of great interest to scholars and advanced students engaged in these fields, as well as anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the enduring relevance of Kierkegaard's ideas to contemporary society.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367696658