Soren Kierkegaard Essay - 1309 Words

Project: Soren Kierkegaard: Mega Mind of the 19th Century Soren Kierkegaard: Mega Mind of the 19th Century As a man whose work spans across areas such as philosophy, theology, devotional literature, and more, Soren Kierkegaard is considered one of the mega-minds of philosophy and the 19th century. He was influenced by many people throughout his life, as well as influencing many people himself. With works that ranged from religious views all the way to developing a â€Å"new† way to view our surroundings, Kierkegaard was a very well-rounded and mentally profound man. There were few people that could influence such a profound mind at the time, but Kierkegaard found them both in church as well as in the realm of philosophy. As a whole†¦show more content†¦how deceptive then, that an omnipresent being should be recognisable precisely by being invisible’ (McDonald, 1996).† His father’s influence has been noted quite frequently in Kierkegaard’s works. Not only did Kierkegaard inherit his fathers melancholy, his sense of guilt and anxiety, and his pietistic emphasis on the dour aspects of Christian faith, but he also inherited his talents for philosophical argument and creative imagination (McDonald, 1996). Kierkegaard was a very religious man, even though he did not attend church on a regular basis. â€Å"He perceived God and existence of life from a humanistic view emphasizing the total autonomy of man (Philosopher Kierkegaard, 2011).† As almost a lone man standing, Kierkegaard was in seclusion publishing his writings for most of his adult life, due to the atheism of fellow philosophers of his time. â€Å"[Kierkegaard’s] legacy was his belief that our response to God should be one of unrestrained passion toward our beloved (Philosopher Kierkegaard, 2011).† During his later years Kierkegaard felt that the Christian religion had become corrupt through secular and political involvement, so he started to attack Christendom sayingShow MoreRelatedSoren Kierkegaard on God1772 Words   |  7 PagesKierkegaard claims that, Infinite resignation is the last stage before faith, so anyone who has not made this movement does not have faith, for only in infinite resignation does an individual become conscious of his eternal validity, and only then can one speak of grasping existence by virtue of faith, (page 52). This idea is demonstrated when Abraham surrenders himself to his fate and surrenders the life of his son to God. This infinite resignation is the reason God grants Abraham his son’s lifeRead MoreEssay The Father of Existentialism: Soren Kierkegaard1068 Words   |  5 Pagesphilosophical thinking begin with the human in terms of thinking, acting and feeling. The fundamental concepts of the externalist philosophers are that they believed that the existence of human conditions is the main problem to share similar ontology. Soren Kierkegaard is considered to be the father of existenti alism. Although, he did not use the word ‘existentialism’, but initially the concept that no society or religion is the main cause that leads an individual to live a life with sincerity or passionatelyRead MoreA Summary, Analysis and Discussion of Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard, Training in Christianity2560 Words   |  11 PagesA  summary, analysis and discussion of Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard, Training in Christianity[1] I. Introduction In this essay, I will try to summarize, analyze and discuss several pages of Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard’s Training in Christianity. I will try to focus on his approach to sacred history, a general Christian history and Christianity, which he discusses in this work in relation to faith in God. In other parts of this essay I will attempt also to relate these pages of his work to some key ideas ofRead MoreSoren Kierkegaard And The Existentialist Philosophy1116 Words   |  5 Pages 2. The Existentialist philosophy, started by Soren Kierkegaard, focuses on self-directed education, finding answers within yourself. Students are not graded because all standards come from themselves. This philosophy emphasizes freedom of choice and mind, and that authentic creative thinking leads to true learning experiences (Cohen). The teacher helps students find their passions and understand who they are. Existentialism has never become prevalent in schools because it is difficult to apply inRead MorePhilosophical Fragments By Soren Kierkegaard Essay922 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard’s book, â€Å"Philosophical Fragments† he first prefaces his writing by explaining his own inadequacy to do so. It is his desire to deliberate upon the actuality of truth and it’s application to the human existence, but in order to do so, he deemed it necessary to admit that â€Å"What is offered here is only a pamphlet...without any claim to being a part of the s cientific-scholarly endeavor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Preface 1 IV 176). Near the end of his preface Kierkegaard, in efforts to convey his intentRead MoreThe Existential Choice : Soren Kierkegaard1368 Words   |  6 PagesSoren Kierkegaard is a Danish philosopher and theologian who attempted to deliver his existentialist point of views. Specifically, Kierkegaard emphasizes the need for humans to take responsibility for their actions and go beyond their â€Å"socially imposed identities† (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). According to his earliest major work â€Å"Either/Or,† he suggests humans are reluctantly stuck between two spheres of life that they must choose between: aesthetic or ethical. He delves into what constitutesRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Plato, Soren Kierkegaard, And Friedrich Nietzsche2613 Words   |  11 Pagesjournal with the goal of recounting my travels to different philosophical societies. Remarkably, each one of the three societies I was privileged enough to travel to r igidly followed a renowned philosophy. These were the philosophies of Plato, Soren Kierkegaard, and Friedrich Nietzsche. The Republic The first society I visited was that of Plato ’s philosophy. The residents were very kind and sought out true meanings of different vi rtues solely by dialectic. They structured their city much the sameRead MoreThe Individual or Society Essay1235 Words   |  5 Pagesinterest. Due to that contradiction, individualism is often contrasted with society or anti-individualism. Does the interest of the individual produce society or does the interest of society produce the individual? To defend individualism will be Soren Kierkegaard and to defend society will be Bertolt Brecht. What is the price of individuality and is it worth the cost? To be an individual is to have individual thoughts, however our actions throughout our life are far from individualistic. Our thoughtsRead MoreThe Song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield850 Words   |  3 Pagesexistentialism music seems to span from much of the well-known literature. Existentialism is prominently seen in literature through the minds of geniuses like Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Sartre. The Concept of Anxiety by Kierkegaard helps to explain the true definition of anxiety and why it exists. â€Å"Learning to understand anxiety is an adventure† (Kierkegaard). Anxiety is having fear for the unknown, so there is nothing truly there to fear. (www.uri.edu)The dark causes great fear but the fear is of somethingRead MoreComparing and Contrasting Nietzsche’s Preparatory Human Being and Kierkegaard’s Knight of Faith1469 Words   |  6 Pagesto some question, proposed about subjects that are necessarily personal in nature. All of philosophy is personal, but some philosophers may deny this. Discussed here are philosophers that would not be that silly. Two proto-existentialists, Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, were keen observers of humanity, and yet their conclusions were different enough to seem contradictory. Discussed here will be Nietzsche’s â€Å"preparatory human being† and Kierkegaard’s â€Å"knight of faith†. Both are archetypal