PHILOSOPHY - Soren Kierkegaard
The School of Life・6 minutes read
Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, was driven by a need to save himself and humanity, criticizing pillars of modern life and advocating a leap of faith towards Christianity. He emphasized laughter in response to life's horrors and promoted extreme surrender and love for all humans, focusing on waking people up from sentimental illusions.
Insights
- Søren Kierkegaard, despite personal tragedies and physical frailty, produced a significant body of work critiquing societal norms and advocating for a radical shift in perspective.
- Kierkegaard's philosophy centers on challenging conventional beliefs about family, work, love, and life's meaning, while promoting a deep sense of existential dread, humor, and a profound commitment to faith and love.
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Recent questions
Who was Søren Kierkegaard?
A Danish philosopher obsessed with death.
How many books did Kierkegaard write?
22 books.
What did Kierkegaard criticize in modern life?
Faith in family, trust in work, attachment to love, and belief in life's purpose.
What concept did Kierkegaard introduce?
The concept of "angst".
What did Kierkegaard advocate towards Christianity?
A leap of faith, extreme surrender, and love for all humans.
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Summary
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Kierkegaard: Philosopher of Death and Faith
- Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, born in 1813, was obsessed with death and wrote 22 books, focusing on waking people up from sentimental illusions.
- Kierkegaard was physically frail, lost most of his siblings by age 22, and published 3 works in a day in 1843, driven by a need to save himself and humanity.
- He criticized modern life's pillars, attacking faith in family, trust in work, attachment to love, and the belief in life's purpose and meaning.
- Kierkegaard mocked the idea of fusing passion with marriage, based on his own failed engagement, and believed in the impossibility of reconciling incompatible desires.
- He emphasized laughter as a response to life's horror, introduced the concept of "angst", and advocated a leap of faith towards Christianity, promoting extreme surrender and love for all humans.
