The problem and the cure: Mimesis in Søren Kierkegaard's second authorship

This thesis examines Søren Kierkegaard's engagements with mimesis in the writings of his so-called "second authorship". The project is the first systematic and comprehensive treatment of the theme of mimesis in Kierkegaard's thought from the period of his authorship that stretches from 1847 to 1855. It is during this time that Kierkegaard exhibits an increasing interest in, and articulates a complex critique of, various dimensions of mimesis. Kierkegaard's reading of mimesis is dialectical. On the one hand, he perceives mimesis as problematic, but on the other hand, he finds it valuable and "useful" in describing the human condition; hence, my title: "The Problem and the Cure".