The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), who became well-known far beyond Denmark, founded modern existential philosophy. He broke away from the mainstream of classical metaphysics, which focused its intellectual efforts on the ideal as the essence of all being, and sought to give a voice to what was deemed unessential: the individual, the historical, the contingent, which falls outside all conceptual frameworks. His descriptions of individual self-becoming, where he confronts the realm of reason with the phenomena of anxiety and despair, have influenced not only Jaspers and Heidegger but also Sartre and Camus. Aesthetic, ethical, and Christian ways of life are based on different concepts of happiness, the meaning of which needs to be explored. As a promoter of a life where enjoyment, morality, or faith are declared vital sources of happiness, Kierkegaard employs pseudonymous authors who entice the reader to engage with themselves and provoke a personal response. This volume gathers selected original texts, organized by central themes, providing a good overview of Kierkegaard's philosophy. Each of the five chapters is accompanied by an introduction from the editor.