What Happens At The End Of 'Either Or'?

2026-03-11 07:18:17
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Jace
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Kierkegaard’s 'Either Or' wraps up with a curveball that still has me scratching my head in the best way. After pages of debating pleasure versus duty, the book drops this sermon that basically says, 'Hey, no matter what you choose, you’re probably missing the bigger picture.' It’s like the philosophical equivalent of a mic drop. The shift from abstract arguments to a heartfelt plea for spiritual humility is jarring but brilliant. I love how it refuses to give easy answers—instead, it makes you sit with the discomfort of uncertainty. That’s Kierkegaard for you: always keeping you on your toes.
2026-03-15 05:36:25
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Gemma
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The ending of 'Either Or' by Søren Kierkegaard is a fascinating blend of philosophical musings and narrative ambiguity that leaves much to the reader's interpretation. The book, part of his larger work 'Either/Or,' presents two contrasting life views through the pseudonymous authors 'A' and 'Judge Wilhelm.' The final section, 'Ultimatum,' includes a sermon titled 'The Upbuilding That Lies in the Thought That We Are Always in the Wrong Before God,' which shifts the tone from aesthetic and ethical deliberations to a more religious reflection. This sermon suggests a transcendence beyond the either/or dichotomy, pointing toward a higher, divine truth.

What strikes me most about the ending is how it doesn’t neatly resolve the earlier debates but instead opens a new dimension. The aesthetic life (represented by 'A') and the ethical life (embodied by the Judge) are both left hanging, as if Kierkegaard is nudging the reader toward a leap of faith. It’s not about choosing one or the other but recognizing the limitations of both. The sermon’s emphasis on humility and spiritual reckoning feels like a quiet bombshell after the earlier intellectual fireworks. I’ve revisited this ending multiple times, and each read leaves me with a different take—sometimes it feels like a critique of human arrogance, other times like a tender invitation to surrender.
2026-03-17 19:13:57
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9 Answers2026-03-11 21:39:13
If you're looking for something that captures the same existential vibes as 'Either/Or', I'd definitely point you toward Kierkegaard's other works like 'Fear and Trembling'. It dives into faith and sacrifice with that same intense, philosophical depth, but through the story of Abraham and Isaac—way heavier in a biblical sense, but just as thought-provoking. Another one that gives off similar energy is Dostoevsky’s 'Notes from Underground'. It’s got that raw, first-person angst and the whole 'man vs. himself' thing going on. The narrator’s self-destructive ramblings feel like they could’ve been ripped straight from Kierkegaard’s darker musings. And if you’re into more modern stuff, 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' by Kundera plays with similar themes of choice and meaning, but with a romantic, almost poetic twist. Honestly, after reading 'Either/Or', these all hit like a train in the best way.

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2 Answers2026-02-11 00:32:56
Kierkegaard's 'Either/Or' was high on my list. After scouring online libraries and forums, I found that while some older translations might be floating around as PDFs in shady corners of the internet, legitimate digital versions are tricky. Penguin Classics and other major publishers usually keep their translations behind paywalls or only offer e-book formats like EPUB. University presses often have PDFs available through library subscriptions, but those require institutional access. What's fascinating is how this scarcity mirrors Kierkegaard's own thoughts about authenticity—there's something poetic about having to physically hunt down a copy of a book that argues so passionately for personal choice and commitment. For those desperate to read it digitally, I'd recommend checking platforms like Project Gutenberg for older translations (though Kierkegaard's dense prose really benefits from modern annotations). Alternatively, some academic websites offer chapter excerpts for study purposes. It's worth noting that Kierkegaard's pseudonymous style makes 'Either/Or' particularly challenging in digital form—the footnotes and structure lose something when divorced from the tactile experience of flipping between sections. Maybe that's the universe telling us to savor this one on paper, with a pencil for marginalia and the patience it deserves.

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