Abstract
This paper is a critical evaluation of what is believed by the author to be Kierkegaard's subjective, ambivalent, and arbitrary stereotyping of women. In particular, the paper examines the Kierkegaardian notion of equality, essential feminine characteristics, and finitude. The result is an attempt to apply Kierkegaard's ideas to those issues pertaining to inequality in musical performance; as well, a plea is made for the demystification of the notion of woman as whore or Madonna.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adorno, T.W. (1989). On Kierkegaard's doctrine of love. In H. Bloom (Ed.),Philosophy of woman: An anthology of classic and current concepts (pp. 19–34). New York: Chelsea House Publishers.
Adorno, T.W. (1989).Kierkegaard: Construction of the aesthetic (R. Hullot-Kentor, Trans.). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Arbaugh, G. & Arbaugh, E.G. (1968).Kierkegaard's authorship. London: George Allen & Unwin.
Dubal, D. (1989).The art of the piano: Its performers, literature and recordings. New York: Summit Books.
Fenger, H. (1980).Kierkegaard, the myths and their origins. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Gould, C.C. (1983). The woman question: Philosophy of liberation and the liberation of philosophy. In M.B. Mahowald (Ed.),Philosophy of woman: An anthology of classic and current concepts, (pp. 415–452). Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
Horkheimer, M. (1986).Critical theory: Selected essays. New York: Continuum Publishing.
Horkheimer, M., & Adorno, T. (1989).Dialectic of enlightenment. New York: Continuum Publishing.
Kierkegaard, S. (1964).Works of Love. New York: Harper Torchbooks. (Original work published 1847).
Kierkegaard, S. (1967).Stages on life's way. New York: Schocken Books. (Original work published 1845).
Kierkegaard, S. (1971).Either/or (vol. I). Princeton: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1843).
Kierkegaard, S. (1974).Either/or (vol. II). Princeton: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1843).
Kierkegaard, S. (1978).Journals and papers (vol. IV). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Kierkegaard, S. (1983a).Fear and trembling; Repetition. Princeton: Princeton University Press. (Original works published in one volume, 1843).
Kierkegaard, S. (1983b).The sickness unto death. Princeton: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1849).
Lucas, J.L. (1983). ‘Because you are a woman.’ In M.B. Mahowald (Ed.),Philosophy of woman: An anthropology of classic and current concepts (pp. 384–395). Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
Malantschuk, G. (1980).The controversial Kierkegaard. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
Schonberg, H. (1963).The great pianists. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Schonberg, H. (1981).Facing the music. New York: Summit Books.
Wittgenstein, L. (1974).Tractatus logico-philosophicus. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Senyshyn, Y. Kierkegaard, musical performance, and the relation and differentiation of the sexes. Interchange 26, 105–126 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435143
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435143