''Two Minor Ethical-Religious Essays'' (original Danish title: ''Tvende ethisk-religieuse Smaa-Afhandlinger'') is a work by the Danish philosopher

Søren Kierkegaard Søren Aabye Kierkegaard ( , ; ; 5 May 1813 – 11 November 1855) was a Danes, Danish theologian, philosopher, poet, social critic, and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical tex ...

, under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

H.H., written in 1847 and published on May 19, 1849.Kierkegaard, D. Anthony Storm's Commentary on - Two Minor Ethical-Religious Essays
/ref> Kierkegaard wrote a book entitled '' A Cycle of Ethical-Religious Essays'' but chose to publish these two essays as a separate piece while leaving the rest unpublished. The unpublished work would eventually become '' The Book on Adler''. The work is in dual authorship with his signed work '' Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits'', also completed in 1847.Kierkegaard, D. Anthony Storm's Commentary on - Kierkegaard's Authorial Method
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Pseudonym

Kierkegaard, known for his frequent use of pseudonyms, would publish only overtly religious works under his own name, but published his philosophical works under pseudonyms. Each name cultivates a different personality reflective of the overarching meaning of the work. H.H. was the first of two religious pseudonyms, the first being Anti-Climacus, the author of '' The Sickness Unto Death'' and '' Practice in Christianity''. While both are religious, H.H. is less intellectually and philosophically engaged than Anti-Climacus. H.H. is also not an idealized representation of Christianity despite writing authoritatively.Introducing Kierkegaard Pt. V: Major Works and Pseudonyms 2: The Remainder of the Authorship , Re(-)petitions
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First essay

The first essay is entitled ''Has a Man the Right to Let Himself Be Put to Death for the Truth?'' The essay outlines the idea and practice of martyrdom in Christianity and whether or not the martyr has the right to die for truth. The argument in the essay parallels both Kierkegaard's relationship to

Regine Olsen Regine Schlegel (née Olsen; 23 January 1822 – 18 March 1904) was a Danish woman who was engaged to the philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard from September 1840 to October 1841. Biography Early years and engagement to Kierkegaard O ...

and the Christian image of Jesus's crucifixion. The essay's conclusion is that humans should not die for truth but instead be lovingly concerned for others. Kierkegaard would be later address this problem again in his essay ''Armed Neutrality'', which is signed under his own name.

Second essay

The second essay is entitled ''The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle''. The work focuses on the issue of those who are associated with the "Absolute" (i.e., God) and those who are naturally intelligent or gifted. Although both types of men are similar, the apostle speaks with authority, whereas the genius does not. Kierkegaard regarded it as thoughtless to call St. Paul a genius if he was divinely inspired, since he spoke with authority.

References

{{Authority control 1849 books Books by Søren Kierkegaard Ethics essays