One can almost imagine the two characters sitting in a cafe, debating endlessly like the quintessential philosophy students they represent, but never quite resolving their dilemmas. They talk themselves in circles as the bill mounts, and the weary waitress eyes them askance, wondering if a third choice might be to simply pay up and be on their way. Kierkegaard really puts you in a pickle with this one. Just when you think you've made a decision, he swoops in and undermines your reasoning. It's maddening. I pictured the great Dane himself cackling as I flipped back and forth, agonizing over the choice. Some theorize he simply enjoyed toying with his readers. With a setup that is diabolical, it seems plausible.