The Concept of Dread

Description

In this psychological study of Adam, Kierkegaard vindicates the Christian doctrine of original sin in terms that even secular scholars and psychologists find compelling, though not all are pleased with his surprising conclusion. This classic of existentialism argues that awareness of the possibility of sin is...sin. Dread is the unconscious fear of our own freedom. Throwing ourselves headlong into that which we fear most is a common route of escape, but proves to be no escape at all; it only elevates dread to "the demoniacal." Yet consciousness of dread is the very condition of salvation. In fine Kierkegaardian fashion, he begins by laying down rules of inquiry, then breaks them all. Like all SK's pseudonymous philosophical works, THE CONCEPT OF DREAD pushes the reader toward "the existential leap" by removing all alternatives. [From the Amazon kindle edition.] Preface 5 Introduction 9 Chapter I. Dread as the presupposition of original sin and as explaining it retrogressively by going back to its origin 23 1. Historical indications relative to the concept of original sin 23 2. The concept of the first sin 27 3. The concept of innocence 32 4. The concept of the Fall 34 5. The concept of dread 37 6. Dread as the presupposition of original sin and as explaining original sin retro¬ gressively in the direction of its origin 41 Chapter II. Dread as original sin progressively 47 1. Objective dread 50 2. Subjective dread \ 54 \ i"u~- Chapter III. Dread as the consequence of that sin which is the default of the consciousness of sin 73 1. Dread owing to the default of spirit 83 2. Dread dialectically determined in view of fate 86 3. Dread dialectically defined in view of guilt 92 Chapter IV. The dread in sin, or dread as the consequence of sin in the particular individual 99 1. Dread of the evil 101 2. Dread of the good (the demoniacal) 105 Chapter V. Dread as saving experience by means of faith 139