Søren Kierkegaard

Definition

Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, often considered the father of existentialism, who focused on individual experience and the subjective nature of truth. His work emphasized the importance of personal choice and commitment, often contrasting with the objective rationalism of his time, particularly in relation to thinkers like Schopenhauer and Nietzsche.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Kierkegaard introduced the idea of the 'stages of life'—the aesthetic, ethical, and religious stages—each representing different ways individuals engage with existence.
2. He critiqued Hegelian philosophy for its abstractness, arguing that it overlooked the individual's lived experience and emotional depth.
3. Kierkegaard's work laid the groundwork for later existentialists like Nietzsche, who also explored themes of individuality and meaning in a seemingly indifferent world.
4. He often used pseudonyms in his writings to present different perspectives on philosophical issues, allowing for a richer exploration of ideas.
5. Central to Kierkegaard's thought is the concept of angst or anxiety, which he believed arises from the human condition of choice and freedom.

Review Questions

• How does Kierkegaard's emphasis on subjectivity differ from Schopenhauer's focus on will and desire?
  • Kierkegaard's emphasis on subjectivity highlights the importance of individual experience and personal choice in determining truth, while Schopenhauer focuses more on the will as a universal driving force behind human behavior. For Kierkegaard, each person's relationship with existence is unique and subjective, demanding personal commitment and choices. In contrast, Schopenhauer sees desires as rooted in a common human experience influenced by an impersonal will.
• Discuss how Kierkegaard's concept of the 'leap of faith' connects to Nietzsche's views on morality and individuality.
  • Kierkegaard's 'leap of faith' illustrates a commitment to belief despite a lack of rational justification, highlighting the necessity of personal choice in shaping one's identity. Nietzsche expands on this by challenging traditional moral values and emphasizing the individual's responsibility to create their own values in a world devoid of absolute truths. Both philosophers advocate for a personal journey towards authenticity but approach it through different frameworks—Kierkegaard through faith and Nietzsche through self-overcoming.
• Evaluate how Kierkegaard’s idea of 'angst' informs his critique of modernity compared to Nietzsche’s perspective on nihilism.
  • Kierkegaard's concept of 'angst' reflects a deep-seated anxiety about freedom and choice in modernity, suggesting that individuals face an overwhelming burden when creating their own identity in an uncertain world. This critique posits that modernity alienates individuals from genuine self-understanding due to its focus on objective truths. Conversely, Nietzsche's perspective on nihilism argues that the absence of inherent meaning can lead to despair but also offers liberation for individuals to forge their own values. While both philosophers recognize the challenges posed by modernity, Kierkegaard emphasizes emotional struggle while Nietzsche focuses on existential freedom and value creation.

Related terms

Existentialism: A philosophical movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice, asserting that people create their own meaning in a chaotic and indifferent universe.

Subjectivity: The concept that reality is shaped by personal experiences and perspectives, which is central to Kierkegaard's philosophy as he focused on the individual's internal experience.

Leap of Faith: A term used by Kierkegaard to describe the act of believing in something without rational evidence, highlighting the importance of personal commitment in faith and life choices.