Kierkegaard

Soren Kierkegaard

Mid 19th Century thinker. Critic of Modernism
from Descartes through Kant (and more
recently philosophers like Hegel and other
German philosophers).
• Typically viewed as the founder of
existentialism.
• Emphasizes the importance of subjectivity in
seeking truth in contrast to the modern
emphasis on objectivity.

Existentialism

• the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.

Philosophical Fragments

• Title is better translated philosophical ‘tidbits’ or
philosophical ‘crumbs’. It is often taken to be a
direct contradiction to Hegel’s claim that
philosophy can only be done as a ‘system’.
• There is a sequel to the book called the
Concluding Unscientific Postscript. The reference
to ‘Unscientific’ represents a rejection of
objectivity. The Postscript is over 600 pages,
compared to Fragments’ ~100 pages.

Central Question of PF 

How far does the Truth admit of being
learned? (central modern question)
• Compares the Socratic assumptions about
philosophy, with modern ones.
• The Socratic Meno’s paradox: One cannot
‘seek’ what he already knows (for what would
be the point of learning?) BUT one cannot
‘seek’ what he does not know (for how would
he recognize when he learns it)?

Socratic Recollection

Socrates’ solution to the paradox is that everyone
must already ‘know’ the truth in some important
sense, but be unable to access it. Therefore, the
role of the philosopher is to draw the already
existent truth out of the individual.
• This view is in contrast to modern philosophy’s
assumption that the truth is ‘out there.’
• Considers the third possibility that we cannot
know the truth on our own, but that we can
come upon it supernaturally and subjectively.

The Human Condition

Socrates assumes we all have the truth within
us. But Kierkgaard considers the opposite possibility
that we are all systematically in error. Of
course, if we are in systematic error how
would we be able to discover it on our own?
(consider the Cartesian Circle)

The Nature of the Teacher 

The Socratic Teacher can make us aware of our
own ignorance and make us search more
avidly for the truth (either within as Socrates
believes or without as Kierkgaard believes)

• The Supernatural teacher can provide both
the truth and the internal changes needed to
understand and embrace it.

The moment of Learning

It is vital to figure out which of these
possibilities is the case: are we the type of
beings that have the truth in ourselves as
Socrates believes or are we in systematic error
as Kierkgaard believes?
• [Note the modernist claim that we can
somehow find the truth ‘out there’ is barely
considered… since Kierkgaard believes Kant and Hegel
have demonstrated that this is impossible]

The Mocker

Towards the end of each chapter, Kierkgaard considers
the cynic’s point of view.
• In Chapter One the cynic derides the author as
adding nothing new to the philosophical
enterprise.
• Kierkgaard’s response: the ideas are still vital and
require serious consideration.