Kierkegaard's Philosophy: A Reaction to Hegelianism

Overview

• Kierkegaard reacts against Hegelian synthesis, which posits a comprehensive system of philosophy.
• Dislikes Hegel's smug certainty, rationalism, and Promethean aspect connecting Athens (reason) and Jerusalem (faith).
• Believes that one cannot fully systematize human existence.

Key Themes

• Faith vs. Reason:

  • Kierkegaard sees a conflict between faith and reason, rejecting Hegel's attempt to reconcile them.
  • Emphasizes making a choice between the two, with no easy compromises.

• Human Orientation:

  • The orientation towards the world defines behavior and the level of existence one can achieve.
  • Kierkegaard critiques the aesthetic life (pleasure-driven) and contrasts it with the ethical life (morally driven).

Aesthetic vs Ethical Life

• Aesthetic Life:

  • Pursuit of pleasure, both physical (sensory) and intellectual.
  • Aesthetic individuals avoid confronting existential void, leading to boredom.
  • Boredom seen as the root of evil; leads to trivial pursuits and distractions.

• Ethical Life:

  • Pursuit of moral righteousness, commitment to divine law irrespective of pleasure.
  • Reflects a Kantian project; however, Kierkegaard emphasizes faith over rationality.

The Either/Or Choice

• Presented in Kierkegaard's book Either/Or:
  • Either: Aesthetic life (pleasure-driven).
  • Or: Ethical life (moral-driven).
  • No synthesis or compromise allowed; choosing one means rejecting the other.

Absence of Criteria for Choice

• Kierkegaard posits that there is no rational procedure for choosing between aesthetic and ethical lives.
• Choices must be made without prescriptive standards; this creates anxiety.
• The decision is deeply personal and subjective, leading to the concept of the "leap of faith."

Religious Implications

• Kierkegaard's existentialism highlights the anguish of making profound, criterion-less choices.
• Utilizes the story of Abraham (from the Bible) to illustrate faith:
  • God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, highlighting the tension between ethical obligations and faith.
  • Kant argues that reason must interrogate divine commands; Kierkegaard counters that true faith requires absolute submission.

Conclusion

• Kierkegaard presents a grim yet profound perspective on human existence, emphasizing subjective choices with no rational basis.
• His work resonates with existential themes, influencing modern philosophical thought and highlighting the challenges of moral freedom and responsibility.