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Kierkegaard
Is truth objective? Can we make moral choices, or are our choices predetermined? Who are the true saints and heroes of this world? Kierkegaard, the prolific 19th-century Danish philosopher, is one of the most difficult, controversial, and attractive thinkers of the modern period. His concept of man as an isolated individual before God is largely the basis of existentialism.
- GenresPhilosophy
93 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 19, 2022
Kierkegaard is regarded as the founder of existentialism.
In this book, a series of highlights from his major works, Kierkegaard asserts that if he were capable of grasping God objectively, he would not have faith. As he can't do this, grasp God objectively, he requires his faith and if he wishes to retain this faith, he must hold fast to the objective uncertainty.
Faith is a matter of subjective decision, not objective knowledge.
Those who can really stand alone in the world, only taking counsel from conscience - they are the true heroes.
In this book, a series of highlights from his major works, Kierkegaard asserts that if he were capable of grasping God objectively, he would not have faith. As he can't do this, grasp God objectively, he requires his faith and if he wishes to retain this faith, he must hold fast to the objective uncertainty.
Faith is a matter of subjective decision, not objective knowledge.
Those who can really stand alone in the world, only taking counsel from conscience - they are the true heroes.
November 18, 2019
I remember reading (or trying to read) Kierkegaard's writings many years ago and came away thinking that there must be something wrong with me because I didn't really "get it". Now that I have re-visited his writings in this "Nutshell" book, I'm convinced that the issue really is with Kierkegaard ...not with me.
His writing/teaching is really just religion. I don't see it as philosophy. And it veers into mysticism. I've always found it interesting how somebody can start from an idea about God; that god is omnipotent, for example....and then draw all sorts of remarkable conclusions from this. For example, Kierkegaard says that "God recalls accurately what your memory has distorted, because to him the past is the present". ...I guess one could make up any kind of magical abilities for god if you start from the assumption of omnipotence. And this is exactly what Kierkegaard does.
Most of the extracts in this book seem to be more or less personal meditations ....and there is a dose of stoical thought there too. I wonder if he suffered from depression? Certainly, his rather strange upbringing...with an overly strict father would seem to offer a possible trigger for problems with depression and his writing about despair indicates some familiarity with the "black dog".
I'm glad that I had the opportunity for this nutshell refresher on Kierkegaard.....but it has convinced me that I don't need to wast any further time trying to unravel his thoughts. He seems to me to be very much a product of his times and upbringing ...and overwhelmed and surrounded by (protestant) Christian thought. He doesn't accept the dogma that has been delivered up to him but, nor can he escape it. Hence the straying into mysticism and the confusion of mystic thought...eg. "There is only One whom people....can claim to love better than themselves; God." Frankly, I find all slightly tiresome. Hence my rating of only two stars.
His writing/teaching is really just religion. I don't see it as philosophy. And it veers into mysticism. I've always found it interesting how somebody can start from an idea about God; that god is omnipotent, for example....and then draw all sorts of remarkable conclusions from this. For example, Kierkegaard says that "God recalls accurately what your memory has distorted, because to him the past is the present". ...I guess one could make up any kind of magical abilities for god if you start from the assumption of omnipotence. And this is exactly what Kierkegaard does.
Most of the extracts in this book seem to be more or less personal meditations ....and there is a dose of stoical thought there too. I wonder if he suffered from depression? Certainly, his rather strange upbringing...with an overly strict father would seem to offer a possible trigger for problems with depression and his writing about despair indicates some familiarity with the "black dog".
I'm glad that I had the opportunity for this nutshell refresher on Kierkegaard.....but it has convinced me that I don't need to wast any further time trying to unravel his thoughts. He seems to me to be very much a product of his times and upbringing ...and overwhelmed and surrounded by (protestant) Christian thought. He doesn't accept the dogma that has been delivered up to him but, nor can he escape it. Hence the straying into mysticism and the confusion of mystic thought...eg. "There is only One whom people....can claim to love better than themselves; God." Frankly, I find all slightly tiresome. Hence my rating of only two stars.
March 4, 2020
A short introduction to and some selections from the writings of Kierkegaard. A good way to start to get sense of his thought.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews