Psy. 307; Review for Psy. 462



SØREN KIERKEGAARD: SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT IDEAS



1. Generally considered the first relatively modern "existentialist" (if we do not consider existential currents in ancient Greek thought, Zen, etc.)



2. In K's view, truth is found through subjectivity, through our individual, unique apprehension of things.

a) We do not find truth through a detached "objectivity" but through a deep engagement with the world.

b) "The task is precisely to be objective toward oneself and subjective toward all others."



3. Existing, as contrasted to simply being, involves an infinite relationship with oneself and a passionate connection to life.



4. Passion is the quality of striving to become. Without passion there is no movement for the existing thinker. Passion raises the question of what moves one.



5. True heroism is "daring entirely to be oneself, this particular person, alone before God."



6. We may lose contact with our inner self and turn to exterior activity to camouflage this interior emptiness.



7. The sickness unto death is a sickness of the spirit. Also called despair. Its three forms are:



a. The despair of spiritlessness. To be unconscious that one is a spiritual as well as a mental-physical being.





b. The despair of encapsulation. Awareness that one has an inner self but wishing, despairingly, not to be this self.





c. The despair of defiance. Aware of inner self and wishing to affirm this self, but without recognizing the relatedness to and ultimate dependence of the human self on God.

