Kierkegaard's Existentialism - Overview, Critical Analysis, Mention in Key Quotes, Books And More

Kierkegaard is considered the father of existentialism. His philosophical works focus on what it means to be an individual Christian in a secular society. For Kierkegaard, true wisdom comes from within the individual through inner spiritual striving, not from external objective knowledge.

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What is Existentialism?

Existentialism constitutes a philosophical inquiry delving into the intricacies of human existence. Philosophers within this framework delve into inquiries regarding the significance, purpose, and worth of human life. Key elements in existentialist thought encompass an existential crisis, apprehension, and anxiety when confronted with an absurd world (linked to human free will). Additionally, concepts like authenticity, courage, and virtue play crucial roles in this philosophical perspective.

Overview of Kierkegaard's Existentialism

• Subjective truth - For Kierkegaard, objective, rational truth is not the highest form of knowledge. True wisdom comes from within the individual through introspection and spiritual struggle. He advocates a "subjective truth" rooted in personal inwardness and chosen beliefs.
• The absurd - Kierkegaard sees the world as ultimately absurd and meaningless. There are no rational answers to the problems of existence. We must accept this absurdity and make leaps of faith beyond reason.
• Anxiety - The awareness of life's absurdity and our own freedom causes angst and anxiety. But this anxiety also drives us to find meaning and forge our own identities.
• Choice - We must continually choose how to act and what to believe. Choice and decision reveal our authentic selves and allow us to author our own lives.
• Paradox - Life is full of paradox and tension. Authentic existence requires holding opposites in tension, like the finite and infinite.
• Faith - Religion, though beyond rational verification, offers the most meaningful existence. But it requires a passionate "leap of faith" that suspends the ethical.
• Inwardness - True selfhood and wisdom come from within, through spiritual struggle and introspection. The inward spiritual life is more important than external knowledge.

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Analysis of Kierkegaard's Existentialism

Kierkegaard's existentialism provides deep insights into various aspects of human existence. He emphasized the importance of personal choice, faith, and the struggle between despair and hope. Kierkegaard explored themes such as the subjective nature of truth, the tension between the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of life, and the significance of the individual's relationship with God.

Kierkegaard's Existentialism in Books

Kierkegaard wrote a number of works that deal with themes central to his existentialism:

• Either/Or - This is seen as Kierkegaard's fundamental existential work. It presents two contrasting ways of life: the aesthetic and the ethical. It highlights themes of inwardness, choice, anxiety, and authentic selfhood.
• Fear and Trembling - This work deals with the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. It discusses the "teleological suspension of the ethical" involved in religious faith and the "leap of faith" beyond reason.
• The Concept of Anxiety - Kierkegaard analyzes anxiety as a fundamental aspect of human existence. He distinguishes anxiety from fear and sees it as bound up with freedom and possibility.
• The Sickness Unto Death - This work deals with the despair inherent in the human condition and how faith can help one overcome it. It discusses the stages on the way to becoming one's true self.
• Concluding Unscientific Postscript - Kierkegaard's most comprehensive philosophical work. It contains a pointed critique of Hegelian objectivity and advocates a "subjective issue" of faith over system and reason.
• Stages on Life's Way - Kierkegaard describes three levels of existence: the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious. It highlights the progression from external pleasures to inner spiritual meaning.

Most of Kierkegaard's works use a pseudonymous author to indirectly express his philosophical ideas. Through literary devices, he sought to convey existential truths in a way that demands the reader's subjective reflection and commitment.

So these books represent Kierkegaard's attempt to articulate his philosophy of inwardness, paradox, absurdity, anxiety and the importance of authentic individual choice and faith - the core tenets of his existentialism. Let me know if you have any other questions!

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Kierkegaard's Existentialism in a Nutshell

Here is Kierkegaard's existentialism in a nutshell:

• Life is full of paradox, anxiety, and absurdity. The world has no inherent meaning or objective truth.
• Each individual must create meaning through passionate, subjective choices and inward spiritual striving.
• Only through authentic selfhood and inward spiritual renewal can we truly exist as free selves.
• Religious faith, though beyond reason, allows us to make the "leap" to a more authentic existence of inwardness and paradox.
• Authentic individuals make choices that accord with their unique inwardness and individuality. They hold opposites in creative tension.
• True wisdom comes from within through introspection, spiritual crisis, and existential angst. Not from external objective knowledge.
• Existence can only be understood backward, through passionate engagement and lived experience. Not objective theorizing.
• We each hold responsibility for creating meaning within life's absurdity through our inward choices and commitments.

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Key Quotes on Kierkegaard's Existentialism

Here are some important quotes that capture key themes in Kierkegaard's existentialism:

• On subjective truth: "Objectively speaking, being a human being is the most insignificant of all, subjectively it is the highest, for it is composed of infinite possibility."
• On anxiety: "Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom."
• On choice and decision: "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."
• On paradox: "Truth is always a paradox."
• On faith: "The greatest hazard of all, losing one's self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss - an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc. - is sure to be noticed."
• On inwardness: "The self is only that which it does, and only in the direction in which it acts does it exist. Therefore, to act is to take hold of oneself."
• On the absurd: "If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe."

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Conclusion

Søren Kierkegaard's existentialism has left an enduring mark on philosophical discourse. His insights into personal choice, individuality, and the quest for meaning continue to resonate with people seeking to navigate the complexities of life. Kierkegaard's existentialist ideas have greatly influenced existential philosophy and continue to offer valuable perspectives on the human condition.

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