Anxiety in The Concept of Anxiety

It’s nothing

“…42 For Kierkegaard, this anxiety about nothing is not pathological, 'something that should be taken to the physician and if necessary suppressed with medication', but constitutive of our being in the world, and 'a primary resource for our spiritual education'. 43 It is the state of Adam in the Garden of Eden, aware of God's prohibition against eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, but unable to comprehend it because he knows neither good nor evil nor the meaning of death. Adam's innocence gives rise to anxiety as 'the vague experience of being able and forbidden': 44 In this state [innocence] there is peace and repose, but there is simultaneously something else that is not contention and strife, for there is indeed nothing against which to strive.…”

Situating Melancholy in Kierkegaard's "The Concept of Anxiety"

“…Not only the recurring presence of anxiety and melancholy in Kierkegaard's own works, but also the prevalence with which other writers have taken up his ideas, reveals that these two moods, anxiety and melancholy, play an undeniably prominent role in Kierkegaard's understanding of humanity. 3 Even a cursory glance at the secondary literature will demonstrate the overwhelming amount of material that has been written about Kierkegaard's melancholy, both his personal melancholy as well as his description of it (Cappelørn 2008;Ferguson 1995;Hannay 2008;Khan 1985Khan , 1994Marino 2008;McCarthy 1977;McCarthy 1978;Ostenfeld 1978;Podmore 2011;Verstrynge 2006). Additionally, there is a fair amount of literature, though not as much, written on Kierkegaard's concept of anxiety, both his book on the topic as well as its appearance in his other works (Beabout 1996;Grøn 1994;Marino 1998;McCarthy 1978;McCarthy 1985).…”

“…3 Even a cursory glance at the secondary literature will demonstrate the overwhelming amount of material that has been written about Kierkegaard's melancholy, both his personal melancholy as well as his description of it (Cappelørn 2008;Ferguson 1995;Hannay 2008;Khan 1985Khan , 1994Marino 2008;McCarthy 1977;McCarthy 1978;Ostenfeld 1978;Podmore 2011;Verstrynge 2006). Additionally, there is a fair amount of literature, though not as much, written on Kierkegaard's concept of anxiety, both his book on the topic as well as its appearance in his other works (Beabout 1996;Grøn 1994;Marino 1998;McCarthy 1978;McCarthy 1985). This literature culminates in a body of work which describes Kierkegaard's overall view of psychology, thereby giving rise to entire schools that have implemented his thought into their practices (Evans 1990;Khan 1994;May 1977;Nordentoft 1978).…”