Sorensen On Love: Tepid Praise

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Post on Nov 23, 2024

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Sorensen on Love: Tepid Praise – A Blogger's Honest Take

Hey everyone, so I recently dove headfirst into Søren Kierkegaard's Works of Love, and lemme tell ya, it was…a trip. I'd heard whispers, you know? People tossing around phrases like "existential dread" and "the leap of faith." I figured, "How hard can philosophical musings on love be?" Boy, was I wrong. This wasn't your typical rom-com fluff; this was some serious, soul-searching stuff. And honestly? Parts of it left me feeling kinda…underwhelmed. Tepid praise, at best.

My Initial Expectations vs. Reality

I went in expecting, like, a straightforward guide to finding true love, you know? A "10 Steps to a Meaningful Relationship" kinda thing. Maybe some actionable advice on improving communication or dealing with conflict. Instead, I got…well, a lot of existential angst. Don't get me wrong, Kierkegaard's writing is beautifully dense and thought-provoking. It's just…not exactly a self-help book. I mean, the guy's writing about the absolute necessity of loving your neighbor as yourself. That’s a tall order!

I spent hours, maybe days, trying to wrap my head around his concept of self-love as the foundation for loving others. I kept thinking, "Does this mean I need to, like, really love myself before I can love anyone else?" I’m still not totally sure. It's that kinda book. It leaves you with more questions than answers, which is both frustrating and strangely compelling.

Where Sorensen Lost (and Found) Me

One thing that really struck me was Kierkegaard's emphasis on the demanding nature of love. He wasn't talking about puppy love or casual dating. No, sir. This was a deep, committed, almost sacrificial kind of love. He talks about love as this incredibly difficult task, a lifelong project. And honestly? That's a bit daunting. It’s not the breezy, "follow your heart" advice you get from most relationship gurus. He talks about the responsibility you have to the person you love, to yourself, and to the whole world, essentially. And THAT was a revelation.

Another point where Sorensen kind of…confused me? His relentless focus on the paradox of love. He stresses the need to be totally selfless, yet completely aware of your own individuality. He talks about how these two things might seem contradictory, but they somehow need to coexist. That's a heavy concept, especially when I’m just trying to, I don't know, decide what to have for dinner.

I even tried to apply some of it to my own relationships. Let me tell you, trying to understand the nuance of his concepts, while also trying to decide if we should have pizza or Thai food, is a challenge. It's like, my brain hurts. But that makes it real. You know? It’s life.

The Takeaway: A Tough But Valuable Read

So, my tepid praise isn't a dismissal. Works of Love isn't exactly a breezy beach read. It's a challenging, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding exploration of love's complexities. It forces you to confront uncomfortable truths about yourself and your relationships. It's the kinda book you'll reread and still feel like you're only scratching the surface. It pushed me to consider the depths of love and the challenges we all face in navigating relationships and the meaning of life itself.

And while I might not have a neat, 10-step plan for finding lasting love after reading it, I do have a much deeper appreciation for the complexities and challenges inherent in truly loving and being loved. That, in itself, is pretty valuable.