[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by Jejunity

I disagree.

I am not sure whether it is worthwhile to express my disagreement with your disagreement, because I have the impression that you misunderstood me completely.

Originally Posted by Jejunity

There is nothing wrong with being the protegé of someone whose thoughts you admire;

Where did I say that it is wrong?

Originally Posted by Jejunity

the cult of originality, which is of course narcissism in rather plain disguise, is a modern invention that I have no use for.

When and where did I mention or advocate the "cult of originality"? I just said that first you must be spiritually somehow prepared before reading some great author. Some people read Kierkegaard and it has no effect on them. Before reading and understanding Kierkegaard, you must first develop by yourself some sensibility similar to Kierkegaard's. You must figure out some things by yourself. Or at least you have to drop the conformism you have been imbued with since childhood. Most people are conformists of the modern Western consumerist society and never even come to the level of doubt in some "truths" (in fact lies) that the society has imposed on them.

An average Big-Brother-watching citizen of modern liberal democracy does not even come to the idea of reading Kierkegaard. Or even if he comes to that, he won't understand anything.

Quote from the movie A Fish called Wanda (Otto is replying to Wanda calling him a monkey):

Otto: Monkeys don't read Nietzsche
Wanda: Yes they do, they just don't understand it!!!

Originally Posted by Jejunity

I also reject the notion that interacting with a great work of art or philosophy (or both, as Kierkegaard's are) is inferior to interacting with the so-called real world. Sometimes, when the world doth protest too much, it may even be preferable.

I agree totally.