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Published in two volumes in 1843, ethical "phases" or "stages" of existence.
Either/Or portrays two life views, one consciously
critical reflection, and marriage. The views of the book are not neatly summarized, but are expressed as lived experiences embodied by the pseudonymous authors. The book's central concern is the primal question asked by Aristotle
, "How should we live?"
Kierkegaard left Copenhagen in October 1841 to spend the winter in Berlin. Although the main purpose of this visit was to attend lectures by German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, the lectures turned out to be a disappointment for Kierkegaard and many others. During his stay, Kierkegaard worked on the manuscript for Either/Or and returned to Copenhagen in 1842 with draft of the manuscript, which was completed near the end of 1842 and published in February 1843.