BOOK
BOOK
BY GEORGE STEINER
The Social Contract and The Discourses
ON ADLER
IS B N 978-0-679-43130-5
52000
E
V E R Y M A N ' S
L I B R A R Y
Jacket design by
www.everymanslibrary.com
Carol Devine CttrSO" and Abby IVeilltrallb 9 78067
S0REN
KIERKEGAARD
FEAR AND
TREMBLING
THE BOOK
ON ADLER
TRANSLATED BY WALTER LOWRIE
WITH AN INTRODUCTION
BY GEORGE STEINER
EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY
Alfred A. Knopf New York London Toronro
178
THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK
PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF
First included in Everyman's Library, 1994
Fear and Trembling
Copyright 1941, 1954, by Princeton University Press On Authority and Revelation: The Book on Adler Copyright 1955, by Princeton University Press Published by arrangement with Princeton University Press Introduction Copyright © 1994 by George Steiner Bibliography and Chronology Copyright © 1994 by Everyman's Library Typography by Peter B. Willberg
Sixth printing (US)
All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. Distributed by Random House, Inc., New York. Published in the United K.ingdom by Everyman's Library, Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London ECl V OAT, and distributed by Random House (UK) Ltd.
US website: www.randomhouse.com/everymans
ISBN: 978-0-679-43130-5 (US)
LC 94-75208
978-1-85715-178-7 (UK)
A ClP catalogue reference for this book is available from the British Library
Book design I!J Barbara de Wi/de and Carol Devine Carson Typeset in the UK by AccComputing, North Barrow, Somerset Printed and bound in Germany by GGP Media GmbH, Pbssneck
F E A R A N D T R E M B L I N G
T H E B O O K O N A D L E R
C O N T E N T S
Introduction . .
XI
Select Bibliography ..
XXV
Chronology . .
XXVI
FEAR AND TREMBLING
fufue
3
Prelude
6
A Panegyric upon Abraham
I I
Problemata: Preliminary Expectoration
19
Problem I : Is there such a thing as a teleological suspension of the ethical? . .
45
Problem I I : Is there such a thing as an absolute duty toward God?
58
.
Problem Ill: Was Abraham ethically defensible in keeping silent about his purpose before Sarah, before before lsaac?
7 I