Kierkegaard’s Philosophy

Kierkegaard’s Life and Thought

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was born on May 5, 1813, in Copenhagen, Denmark, a city that played a pivotal role in shaping his outlook and life. He was the youngest of seven children born to Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard, a wealthy merchant, and Anne Sørensdatter Lund Kierkegaard. Søren’s father was a deeply religious man, whose pietistic Lutheran beliefs and guilt over personal transgressions had a profound influence on Søren’s upbringing. This familial context introduced Søren to the complexities of spiritual life and the human condition at an early age.

Kierkegaard grew up during the Danish Golden Age, a period of cultural blossoming in Denmark that spanned the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This era was marked by significant achievements in literature, art, philosophy, and science and saw Denmark transform into a hub of intellectual activity. Copenhagen, in particular, became a center for discussions on theology, Romanticism, and Danish nationalism. Søren’s early intellectual environment included exposure to prominent cultural figures like Hans Christian Andersen and N.F.S. Grundtvig, whose works reflected a mix of Romantic idealism and nationalism.

Kierkegaard’s academic career began when he enrolled at the University of Copenhagen in 1830 to study theology. This was also a time of significant academic reform and intellectual debate in Europe. The university’s curriculum was influenced by German Idealism, particularly by philosophers such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, whose systematic approach to philosophy dominated the intellectual landscape of the time. Kierkegaard, however, found himself fundamentally at odds with Hegelianism. While his professors and peers sought to understand the world through sweeping systems of ideas, Søren favored a more individual-oriented approach, asserting the importance of personal existence over abstract thought.

The early 19th century, when Kierkegaard pursued his studies, was also a turbulent period for religion. Europe had seen the Enlightenment challenge traditional Christianity and promote reason over faith. The Danish church, which was a state institution at the time, remained an integral part of everyday life but also became embroiled in debates about its relevance and authenticity. Kierkegaard’s relationship with the church was deeply ambivalent. On one hand, his Lutheran upbringing gave him a strong foundation in Christian teachings. On the other hand, he grew increasingly critical of the institutionalized church, which he felt had deviated from the teachings of Christ and become complacent.

Kierkegaard’s personal life was marked by tragedy and introspection. His mother passed away in 1834, and this was followed by the deaths of all but one of his siblings by 1838. These losses, coupled with the stern influence of his father, led Søren into periods of melancholy and reflection. Despite these hardships, Kierkegaard completed his theology degree in 1840 and presented a dissertation titled On the Concept of Irony with Constant Reference to Socrates. This marked the beginning of his career as a writer, setting the stage for the prolific period of literary production that would define his life.

Another key event in Kierkegaard’s life was his engagement to Regine Olsen, a young woman he deeply loved. He proposed to her in 1840, but their engagement was short-lived. Kierkegaard, consumed by personal doubts and convinced that his life’s path was incompatible with marriage, ended the engagement in 1841. This painful decision would haunt him throughout his life and significantly influence his writings. Although he broke off the relationship, Regine remained a recurring figure in his works, and she became a symbol of both love and sacrifice in his narrative.

The mid-19th century was a time of significant transformation in European thought. The rise of industrialization, the spread of Romanticism, and the impact of the Enlightenment created a dynamic intellectual climate. This period also saw the emergence of existential concerns, as individuals grappled with questions about the meaning of life, identity, and freedom. While philosophers like Hegel sought to organize knowledge and experience into unified systems, others were beginning to emphasize the subjective and personal aspects of human existence. Kierkegaard is considered a precursor in this existentialist turn, though he lived prior to the formal emergence of existentialism as a school of thought.

Kierkegaard published most of his works during the 1840s and early 1850s, often using pseudonyms that reflected different perspectives. This method allowed him to explore diverse ideas and figures in his written works while maintaining a critical distance from his public persona. It was also during this period that he became increasingly vocal in his criticisms of the Danish Lutheran Church, accusing it of hypocrisy and neglect of true Christian values. His later years saw a growing rift between him and the church, culminating in a series of public attacks on church leaders and institutions in periodicals.

Søren Kierkegaard’s life was not one of widespread recognition during his time. His works were often misunderstood or dismissed by critics, and he lived modestly, supported by an inheritance from his father. Despite his lack of widespread fame, Kierkegaard dedicated himself wholly to his work, producing literature and theological writings that would later be recognized for their depth and originality.

Kierkegaard died on November 11, 1855, at the age of 42. He passed away after collapsing in the street, having suffered from health problems throughout his life. He was buried in Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen, the same place where many prominent Danish figures were laid to rest. While his death marked the end of an era, it was only the beginning of his influence. Over the subsequent decades, his writings gained increasing recognition, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as thinkers in philosophy, theology, and literature began to engage deeply with his ideas.

Though he lived during a time when Hegelian philosophy was dominant and organized religion was deeply ingrained in societal structures, Kierkegaard’s life and work stood out for their individuality and critique of these systems. His refusal to conform to the intellectual trends of his time and his dedication to exploring issues of faith, existence, and individuality paved the way for the development of modern philosophy. Today, Søren Kierkegaard is regarded as one of the most important figures of Western thought, remembered not just for his contributions to theology and literature but for the unique and personal voice he brought to the intellectual landscape of the 19th century.

Key Ideas in Kierkegaard’s Philosophy

• Existential Angst and Kierkegaard’s philosophy
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and authenticity
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and Christian existentialism
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and despair
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and double movement of faith
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and indirect communication
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and Socratic ignorance
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and subjectivity as truth
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and the absurd
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and the infinite qualitative distinction
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and the Knight of Faith
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and the leap of faith
• Kierkegaard’s Philosophy and the three stages of life (Aesthetic, Ethical, Religious)