Kierkegaard Sren Kierkegaard Danish philosopher 1813 1855 Used

Kierkegaard

Søren Kierkegaard Danish philosopher, 1813 -1855 Used multiple pseudonyms to publish works Each pseudonym took on different viewpoints He used them to interact with each other to form complex dialogue Was engaged to marry but he broke it off at the last minute Believed it was his duty to explore Christian ethics and the nature of humans’ connection with God He did not think he would be able to fully do so AND be a good husband at the same time Kierkegaard remained in love with her, even after she remarried – he left her everything in his will

Philosophy Known as the “Father of Existentialism” Felt that his contemporaries were too focused on “objective truth” and tended to ignore the human element He responded by focusing on individual experience and subjectivity – specifically within a Christian context He explores what it means to find “subjective truth” by focusing inward Lays the foundation for later existentialist philosophers to examine subjective meaning and the nature of the self Known for: Either/Or, Fear and Trembling, Sickness Unto Death

Sickness Unto Death Defines the Self with lots of relations relating itself to itself Self = having the awareness of being one’s self – self recognition + having a self The self is based on a dialectic – two opposites Finite and infinite – Corporeal life + eternal soul Possible and necessary – Free will + physical limitations The self can happen one of two ways 1. It’s created on its own 2. Something else created it - God People need to recognize their relation to God in the formation of their self AND balance the elements of synthesis within

The Sickness Having an imbalance creates despair – despair is a sickness of the soul Unlike physical sickness, it does not end with death – the soul is eternal Need to balance the dialectic and recognize God’s relation in order to cure one’s self

Types of Despair Conscious Unconscious Sensualist Focus on pleasure Imagines they are happy, but depends on objects for that happiness System-Builder Focus on ideas with no real-life effects Creates ideals on how things SHOULD be, but do not reflect how things ARE = despair Can be aware they are in despair, but do not know why

More Types Will to BE one’s self Will to NOT be one’s self Defines themselves externally – wants to be something – have a certain job, have power, have time to relax Not content with self, focuses inward to make changes Recognizes own weakness and despairs over being themselves and not something/someone else Full acceptance of self – does not allow for possibility Wallows in their own despair – does not seek help from others or from God