Repetition and the Fullness of Time ─ Gift, Task, and Narrative in Kierkegaard Upbuilding Ethics

Many moral philosophers have begun to think about the significance of our story-telling habits for moral reflection. Recently skeptics of narrative's relevance have begun to mount a vigorous resistance. Kierkegaard studies have been a major focus, and this book has three theses about the presuppositions, ends, and limits of Kierkegaard's use of narrative at its heart. First, Kierkegaard's account of the moral life in terms of gift and task, a structure that lends itself naturally to narrative display, provides a compelling rationale for the pervasive presence of narrative forms. Second, Kierkegaard chiefly intends his use of narrative as a pedagogical tool for building up his reader in "repetition," a pattern of loss and then recovery in a new key. Finally, Kierkegaard recognizes the limits of moral arguments, so his writings must also be contextualized in the moment of encounter with the eternal and divine, the moment that is the fullness of time. Colton advances these theses through detailed readings of several Kierkegaardian texts as well as interactions with contemporary moral philosophers and narrative theorists, furthering both our understanding of Kierkegaard's thought and the current debate on the significance of narrative for ethics. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)