Søren Kierkegaard’s Existentialism: Examining His Emphasis on Individual Existence, Subjectivity, and Faith
(Lecture Hall doors swing open, a slightly disheveled professor strides in, clutching a well-worn copy of "Fear and Trembling." He clears his throat dramatically.)
Alright, settle down, settle down! Welcome, my dear seekers of truth, my fellow pilgrims on the path of meaning! Today, we’re diving headfirst into the wonderfully weird and profoundly influential world of Søren Kierkegaard. 📜
Forget your dry textbooks for a moment. We’re not just memorizing dates and definitions. We’re wrestling with existence itself! Think of it as existential weightlifting – it’s gonna hurt, but you’ll come out stronger, maybe even a little bit wiser. 😉
(Professor gestures wildly with his book.)
Kierkegaard! The Dane! The melancholic genius! The guy who practically invented the existential crisis! He’s the philosophical equivalent of that friend who always asks the uncomfortable questions at the dinner table. "Are you really happy?" "What are you living for?" "Is that your authentic self, or are you just wearing a mask?" 🎭
(Professor pauses for effect, peering over his glasses.)
Sound intimidating? Good. It should be. But it’s also exhilarating! Kierkegaard isn’t trying to depress you (although he was pretty good at that, too). He’s trying to wake you up! ⏰
I. Setting the Stage: Before Existentialism Was Cool
(Professor clicks a slide to reveal a comically oversized portrait of Hegel.)
To understand Kierkegaard, we need a bit of context. Imagine 19th-century Europe. Grand philosophical systems were all the rage. Think of Hegel! The intellectual equivalent of a Victorian wedding cake: elaborate, imposing, and a little bit…stale. 🎂
Hegel believed in a grand, overarching system of reason, the "Absolute Spirit," unfolding through history. Everything was part of this rational, predictable process. Individuality? Just a tiny cog in the machine. ⚙️
(Professor shudders dramatically.)
Now, Kierkegaard, bless his contrarian soul, wasn’t buying it. He felt suffocated by these grand narratives. He saw the real human drama, the messy, unpredictable, personal struggles of existence, being swept under the rug.
(Professor scribbles on the whiteboard, then steps back to admire his handiwork.)
| Hegel’s World | Kierkegaard’s World |
|---|---|
| Universal Reason | Individual Existence |
| Objective Truth | Subjective Truth |
| System & Certainty | Paradox & Uncertainty |
| The Collective | The Individual |
| "Knowing" is Paramount | "Becoming" is Paramount |
II. The Individual: A Lone Wanderer in a Meaningless Universe (Sort Of)
(Professor paces the room, emphasizing each word.)
Kierkegaard’s core idea is this: Existence precedes essence. This is the bedrock of existentialism. What does it mean? Simple: you are born before you have a defined purpose or meaning. You are thrown into existence, a blank slate, and you have the terrifying, exhilarating freedom to create yourself.
(Professor points to a student in the front row.)
You, my friend! You’re not born with a pre-programmed destiny. You’re not a pre-written character in a cosmic play. You become who you are through your choices, your actions, and your commitments.
(Professor pulls out a rubber chicken and holds it aloft.)
This rubber chicken! It was designed to be a comedic prop. Its essence precedes its existence. But you? You’re different. You’re a work in progress! 🔨
(Professor throws the rubber chicken into the air.)
This emphasis on the individual has several key implications:
- Responsibility: If you create your own meaning, you are also responsible for it. No blaming fate, society, or your parents. You own your choices. This can be a terrifying burden! 😱
- Authenticity: Living authentically means being true to yourself, to your own values and beliefs, even if they go against the grain. It means rejecting the pressure to conform and embracing your unique individuality.
- Anxiety: The freedom to choose can be paralyzing. The realization that there is no pre-ordained meaning can lead to existential anxiety, a feeling of dread and uncertainty. This is not necessarily a bad thing! It’s a sign that you’re grappling with the big questions. 🤔
III. Subjectivity: Truth is in the Eye of the Beholder (Kind Of)
(Professor puts on a pair of oversized sunglasses.)
Kierkegaard wasn’t a fan of objective truth, the kind of cold, impersonal "truth" that science and philosophy often pursue. He believed that the most important truths, the ones that really matter, are subjective. They are truths that are personally appropriated, lived, and felt.
(Professor takes off the sunglasses.)
Think about love. Can you define love objectively? Can you put it in a formula? No! Love is a subjective experience. It’s how you feel, how you relate to another person. It’s a truth that you live, not a truth that you simply know. ❤️
(Professor draws a Venn diagram on the whiteboard.)
Imagine two circles. One represents objective truth, the realm of facts and logic. The other represents subjective truth, the realm of values, beliefs, and personal experiences. The intersection of these circles is where true meaning lies. You need both!
(Professor taps the Venn diagram with his marker.)
Kierkegaard wasn’t saying that objective truth is irrelevant. He was saying that it’s not enough. You need to internalize knowledge, to make it your own, to live it out. Otherwise, it’s just empty words.
IV. The Stages on Life’s Way: A Journey Through Disillusionment
(Professor pulls out a well-worn map.)
Kierkegaard outlined three "stages on life’s way," each representing a different way of approaching existence:
| Stage | Description | Motivating Force | Example | Problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic Stage | Pleasure-seeking, living in the moment, avoiding commitment. A pursuit of sensory gratification and novelty. | Immediate Gratification | A Don Juan, constantly chasing new experiences. | Ultimately unsatisfying, leading to boredom and despair. No lasting meaning or commitment. Leads to a feeling of emptiness. 😩 |
| Ethical Stage | Living according to moral principles, fulfilling duties, conforming to societal norms. A commitment to reason and law. | Duty and Social Approval | A responsible citizen, adhering to the rules and expectations of society. | Can become rigid and impersonal, stifling individuality and genuine feeling. May lead to hypocrisy and a feeling of being trapped. 😐 |
| Religious Stage | A leap of faith into the absurd, a commitment to a personal relationship with God. Transcendence of reason and morality. | Faith and Personal Revelation | Abraham, willing to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command. | Paradoxical, potentially irrational, and fraught with anxiety. Requires a complete surrender of reason and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. 🙏 |
(Professor points to each stage on the map.)
These stages are not necessarily linear. You can move back and forth between them. The key is to be aware of where you are and to strive for a higher level of existence.
(Professor sighs dramatically.)
The aesthetic stage is seductive! Pleasure is fun! But it’s ultimately empty. The ethical stage is noble! Duty is important! But it can be stifling. The religious stage? That’s the real challenge!
V. The Leap of Faith: Embracing the Absurd
(Professor looks directly at the audience.)
This brings us to the heart of Kierkegaard’s philosophy: the leap of faith. He believed that true faith is not a matter of intellectual assent to doctrines. It’s a passionate commitment, a leap into the unknown, a willingness to embrace the absurd.
(Professor holds up "Fear and Trembling.")
Think about Abraham and Isaac. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This is a morally repugnant act! It goes against all reason and ethical principles. Yet, Abraham is willing to do it, not because he understands God’s reasons, but because he trusts in God.
(Professor slams the book down on the lectern.)
This is the essence of the leap of faith! It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about trusting in something beyond reason, something that transcends our understanding. It’s about choosing faith in spite of doubt.
(Professor draws a picture of a cliff on the whiteboard.)
Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff. Reason tells you not to jump. Logic tells you it’s dangerous. But faith whispers, "Take the leap!"
(Professor closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.)
This leap is terrifying! It’s filled with anxiety and uncertainty. But it’s also the only way to find true meaning and purpose in life, according to Kierkegaard.
VI. Critiques and Considerations: Not All Sunshine and Roses
(Professor adjusts his glasses.)
Now, Kierkegaard wasn’t without his critics. Some argue that his emphasis on subjectivity leads to relativism, the idea that anything goes. Others criticize his religious views as being irrational and even dangerous.
(Professor lists some common critiques on the whiteboard.)
- Relativism: If truth is subjective, does that mean there are no objective standards of right and wrong?
- Irrationality: Is it responsible to base your life on a "leap of faith" that defies reason?
- Elitism: Is Kierkegaard’s philosophy accessible to everyone, or is it only for a select few intellectuals?
- Pessimism: Is Kierkegaard’s focus on anxiety and suffering ultimately depressing?
(Professor shrugs.)
These are valid concerns! It’s important to engage with Kierkegaard critically, to weigh his ideas against your own values and beliefs. He’s not offering easy answers. He’s challenging you to think for yourself.
VII. Why Kierkegaard Matters: Existentialism for the 21st Century
(Professor smiles.)
So, why should we care about a 19th-century Danish philosopher who wrote under pseudonyms and obsessed about faith? Because Kierkegaard’s ideas are more relevant than ever!
(Professor points to the audience.)
In a world that is increasingly complex, uncertain, and fragmented, Kierkegaard reminds us of the importance of the individual, the value of subjective experience, and the necessity of making our own choices.
(Professor lists the reasons why Kierkegaard is still relevant on the whiteboard.)
- Emphasis on Individuality: In a world of conformity, Kierkegaard encourages us to be ourselves.
- Focus on Authenticity: In a world of superficiality, Kierkegaard challenges us to live genuine lives.
- Acceptance of Uncertainty: In a world of constant change, Kierkegaard teaches us to embrace the unknown.
- Personal Responsibility: In a world of blame-shifting, Kierkegaard reminds us that we are accountable for our choices.
- The Search for Meaning: In a world that often feels meaningless, Kierkegaard inspires us to create our own purpose.
(Professor pauses for effect.)
Kierkegaard’s philosophy is not a comfortable one. It demands that we confront the hard questions about existence, that we take responsibility for our lives, and that we embrace the uncertainty of the future. But it’s also a liberating one. It empowers us to create our own meaning, to live authentically, and to find our own path in the world.
(Professor picks up the rubber chicken again.)
So, go forth, my friends! Embrace the anxiety! Take the leap of faith! And don’t be afraid to be a little bit weird. After all, the world needs more authentic individuals, more people who are willing to question the status quo and to create their own meaning.
(Professor throws the rubber chicken into the audience. Lecture ends.) 🐥
