The Lowest Depths

Today's thin-skinned press takes offense at the slightest criticism from President Johnson or anybody else. But what if it had to contend with a contemporary Soren Kierkegaard? Incensed by vicious newspaper attacks on his personal beliefs and eccentricities, the great 19th century Danish philosopher flayed the press both aloud and in his journals, the final volume of which is now available in English (The Last Years: Journals 1853-55; Harper & Row; $6.95). Sample scorchers:

P: "The daily press is the evil principle of the modern world, and time will only serve to disclose this fact with greater and greater clearness. The capacity of the newspaper for degeneration is sophistically without limit, since it can always sink lower and lower in its choice of readers. At last it will stir up all those dregs of humanity which no state or government can control."

P: "If the daily press were to hang out a sign like every other trade, it would have to read: 'Here men are demoralized in the shortest possible time on the largest possible scale for the lowest possible price.' "

P: "There is a far greater need for total abstaining societies which would not read newspapers than for ones which do not drink alcohol."

P: "If Christ now came to earth, as sure as I live, He would not attack the high priests and the like; He would focus His attention upon the journalists."

P: "If I were a father and had a daughter who was seduced, I should not despair over her; I would hope for her salvation. But if I had a son who became a journalist, and continued to be one for five years, I would give him up."

P: "If the publisher wants to be an aristocrat, let him first cease to publish a newspaper."

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