Kierkegaard's Leap: Choosing God in the Abyss of Freedom
Søren Kierkegaard (Copenhagen, 5 May 1813 – Copenhagen, 11 November 1855) opposed Hegelian idealism, arguing that objective truth fails to illuminate individual existence. His philosophy centers on the vertiginous responsibility of freedom, where every choice excludes infinite alternatives, leading to anxiety. This anguish, rooted in his strict Christian upbringing and family tragedies (death of his mother and five siblings), haunted him. His 1843 work 'Either/Or' presents life stages: the aesthetic (the seducer Johannes, who treats life as an art but faces boredom), the ethical (the married Judge William, whose conformity masks dissatisfaction), and the religious (the 'leap of faith' in 'Fear and Trembling', exemplified by Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac). Kierkegaard's break with fiancée Regina Olsen reflected his torment. The article is by Luca Volpi for MIfacciodiCultura, published on Artspecialday.
Key facts
- Søren Kierkegaard lived from 5 May 1813 to 11 November 1855 in Copenhagen.
- He opposed Hegelian dialectic (thesis-antithesis-synthesis) for neglecting the individual.
- His philosophy emphasizes freedom as a burden of infinite choices leading to anxiety.
- He broke off his engagement with Regina Olsen due to his religious torment.
- His mother and five siblings died prematurely, fueling a sense of family curse.
- In 1843 he published 'Either/Or' (Aut-Aut), presenting aesthetic, ethical, and religious stages.
- The aesthetic stage is embodied by Johannes the Seducer, who pursues pleasure but faces boredom.
- The religious stage requires a paradoxical 'leap of faith', as in Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac.
Entities
Artists
- Søren Kierkegaard
- Luca Volpi
- Socrates
- Immanuel Kant
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
- Johannes (fictional)
- Don Giovanni (Mozart)
- Abraham (biblical)
- Isaac (biblical)
- Regina Olsen
Institutions
- MIfacciodiCultura
- Artspecialday
Locations
- Copenhagen
- Denmark