\"Or — or\" of Kierkegaard: the art of choosing without knowing the result Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher of the 19th century, often referred to as the father of existentialism. His main work, \"Or — or\", written in 1843, remains one of the most provocative and profound texts in the history of thought. But what did he mean when he chose such a title? Is it really about the final choice and a definite decision? Or perhaps something more complex — about life where we can never be sure that we chose correctly? Let's figure it out without academic pomposity, but with respect for the Danish genius.Two paths, or What does \"Or — or\" mean For Kierkegaard, \"Or — or\" is not just a logical alternative. It is an existential challenge. He offers the reader a choice between two main ways of existence: the aesthetic and the ethical. The aesthetic path is life built on pleasure, the search for beauty, novelty, enjoyment. The ethical path is life based on duty, morality, responsibility, marriage, profession. But the philosopher does not say that one of them is better. He says that you need to choose. And this choice can only be made through a \"leap\" — an act of personal determination that cannot be justified rationally. \"Or — or\" is not about weighing all the \"pros\" and \"cons\" and making an optimal decision. It is about the fact that rational weighing is impossible when it comes to choosing a life path. Because there is no objective scale that could compare pleasure and duty. Kierkegaard asserts that the choice is always subjective, always personal, always risky. And it is precisely in this risk that its authenticity lies.Not just \"Or\", but \"Or\" — and no \"And\" Unlike the modern world where we are accustomed to compromises and syntheses, Kierkegaard insists on the rigidity of the alternative. You cannot live both in the aesthetic and the ethical at the same time. You cannot be a hedonist and a moralist at the same time. Sooner or later, you will have to ... Read more