Søren Kierkegaard Biography – Danish Philosopher, Theologian, Writer, Existentialism

Søren Kierkegaard. La Biblioteca Real de Dinamarca, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) was a Danish philosopher, theologian, and writer, often considered the father of existentialism. His work explored themes of faith, individuality, despair, and the subjective nature of human existence.

Kierkegaard was deeply critical of both Hegelian philosophy and the institutionalized Christianity of his time, arguing that faith was a deeply personal and passionate commitment rather than a matter of rational analysis or social conformity.

He introduced concepts like the “leap of faith,” the “three stages of life” (the aesthetic, ethical, and religious), and “existential dread” (angst). His major works include Either/Or, Fear and Trembling, and The Sickness Unto Death.

Despite being largely ignored during his lifetime, Kierkegaard’s ideas profoundly influenced later existentialist thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as Christian theologians like Karl Barth.

Early Life

Søren Kierkegaard was born on May 5, 1813, in Copenhagen, Denmark, into a wealthy but deeply religious family. His father, Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard, was a successful wool merchant who had risen from poverty. However, he was also a deeply melancholic and guilt-ridden man, believing he had brought divine punishment upon his family. This religious intensity had a profound effect on Søren, shaping his later philosophy.

Kierkegaard was the youngest of seven children, but several of his siblings died young, reinforcing the somber atmosphere in his household. His father’s stern Lutheran faith and belief in predestination instilled in him a lifelong concern with sin, suffering, and individual responsibility.

He studied theology and philosophy at the University of Copenhagen, initially living a somewhat carefree, social life. However, he eventually became more withdrawn and dedicated himself to intellectual and spiritual pursuits. During this period, he was particularly influenced by Socrates, Hegel, and Christian thought. His early life culminated in a failed engagement to Regine Olsen, which deeply affected him and became a recurring theme in his writings about love, commitment, and faith.

Philosophical Influences

Søren Kierkegaard was influenced by a range of philosophical, theological, and literary figures, though he often engaged with them critically. Some of his major influences include:

Socrates

Kierkegaard admired Socrates for his commitment to self-examination and his method of irony and questioning. He saw Socrates as a model for the “subjective thinker” who challenges conventional wisdom and prioritizes individual truth over societal norms.

Immanuel Kant

While Kierkegaard did not fully embrace Kant’s rationalism, he was influenced by Kant’s distinction between noumenal (unknowable reality) and phenomenal (perceived reality) worlds. He also shared Kant’s concern with individual moral responsibility.

G.W.F. Hegel

Kierkegaard was deeply critical of Hegel’s systematic philosophy, which sought to explain all of reality through dialectical logic. He rejected Hegel’s emphasis on abstract universals, arguing instead that individual existence and subjective experience were more important than grand rational systems.

Martin Luther

As a Protestant thinker, Kierkegaard was influenced by Martin Luther’s emphasis on faith and the individual’s direct relationship with God, bypassing institutionalized religion. Kierkegaard took this further, arguing that faith requires a personal “leap” beyond reason.

Blaise Pascal

Pascal’s focus on religious faith, existential despair, and the limits of human reason resonated with Kierkegaard. Pascal’s Pensées, which discusses the struggle between faith and doubt, closely aligns with Kierkegaard’s views.

Friedrich Schelling

Kierkegaard was interested in Schelling’s ideas on existence, freedom, and personal development. He attended Schelling’s lectures in Berlin, though he found them disappointing.

Augustine of Hippo

Kierkegaard’s thoughts on sin, grace, and the restless nature of the human soul reflect the influence of St. Augustine, particularly Confessions, which explores inner struggles with faith and personal transformation.

While Kierkegaard drew from these thinkers, he fundamentally broke from them by emphasizing subjectivity, personal responsibility, and the “leap of faith” as essential to authentic existence.

Key Philosophical Aspects

Kierkegaard’s philosophy is complex, but it centers around the individual’s relationship to existence, faith, and truth. Some of his key ideas include:

Subjectivity and Truth

Søren Kierkegaard famously said, “Truth is subjectivity.” He argued that objective facts (such as scientific truths) are important, but the most crucial truths—such as faith, meaning, and ethical responsibility—are subjective and must be personally experienced.

The Three Stages of Life

Kierkegaard outlined three modes of human existence:

• Aesthetic Stage – Living for pleasure, beauty, and entertainment, avoiding deeper responsibility. Eventually, this leads to despair.
• Ethical Stage – Living by moral principles and social duties, seeking to be a “good person.” However, this too can become empty if it is just rule-following.
• Religious Stage – A life of personal faith and commitment to God, often requiring a leap of faith beyond reason and ethics. This is the highest stage.

The Leap of Faith

Kierkegaard argued that faith is not a logical conclusion but a passionate commitment. Since God’s existence cannot be proven rationally, one must take a “leap of faith” to truly believe. This leap is not blind but requires personal struggle, doubt, and choice.

Angst and Despair

• Angst (Dread/Anxiety) – The feeling of existential uncertainty and freedom, realizing that one is responsible for one’s own choices.
• Despair – The sickness of the soul, caused by avoiding one’s true self or failing to embrace faith. Despair can manifest as:
  • Not being aware of oneself (living superficially).
  • Rejecting one’s true self (self-hatred or feeling trapped).
  • Trying to be self-sufficient without acknowledging dependence on God.

Critique of Organized Religion

Kierkegaard harshly criticized the Danish Lutheran Church for being too institutional and complacent. He believed true Christianity required personal struggle, not just attending church or following rituals.

Indirect Communication and Pseudonyms

Rather than giving direct philosophical arguments, Kierkegaard often wrote under pseudonyms, presenting different perspectives in his works (Either/Or, Fear and Trembling, The Sickness Unto Death). This method forced readers to engage personally with ideas rather than passively accepting doctrine.

At his core, Kierkegaard’s philosophy is about what it means to be an individual who must confront meaning, faith, and existence in a deeply personal way.

Legacy

Kierkegaard’s legacy is vast, influencing philosophy, theology, psychology, literature, and even modern culture. His ideas remain relevant today, shaping discussions about individualism, faith, meaning, and existential anxiety.

Influence on Existentialism

Søren Kierkegaard is often called the “father of existentialism” because he emphasized individual choice, personal responsibility, and subjective experience. Later existentialists, both religious and atheistic, built upon his ideas.

Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir adopted his emphasis on individual freedom and personal responsibility but removed the religious aspect. Martin Heidegger and Karl Jaspers expanded on his ideas of anxiety (angst) and authentic existence.

Impact on Theology

Kierkegaard revolutionized Christian thought, challenging passive religious belief. His focus on faith as a personal struggle influenced Karl Barth (who developed neo-orthodox theology, emphasizing God’s transcendence and human dependence on faith) and Paul Tillich and Rudolf Bultmann, who applied existentialist ideas to theology, seeing faith as an existential choice rather than doctrinal certainty.

Contributions to Psychology

Thinkers like Rollo May and Viktor Frankl used his ideas about despair, anxiety, and meaning to develop existential therapy, and Carl Jung engaged with his ideas about the self and spiritual development.

Literature and Culture

Many novelists and poets were influenced by Kierkegaard’s themes of alienation, personal crisis, and faith.

Franz Kafka’s The Trial and The Castle echo Kierkegaard’s ideas of existential dread and absurdity. Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground and The Brothers Karamazov explore faith, despair, and personal struggle, much like Kierkegaard. And Walker Percy and Flannery O’Connor applied Kierkegaardian themes in modern Christian literature.

Relevance in Modern Discussions

Kierkegaard’s ideas about authenticity and personal responsibility resonate in today’s world, especially with the rise of individualism. His critique of organized religion vs. personal faith is still discussed in religious and philosophical circles. Moreover, his exploration of anxiety and despair is more relevant than ever in a world grappling with mental health crises.

Even outside philosophy and religion, Kierkegaard’s themes appear in contemporary films, novels, and discussions about the meaning of life, freedom, and personal truth. His call for deep personal reflection continues to challenge readers today.