Danish philosopher Kierkegaard Søren: biography, photo

Who is Seren Kierkegaard? First of all, this is a person whose name everyone knows, but very few people understand what he is famous for. Often, wanting to appear smarter, more educated, more learned than there is in reality, young people refer to his name, completely not knowing what exactly he means. Especially when this last name is pronounced or spelled with errors. So, who is he really?

Biography. Young years.

Seren Kierkegaard (date of birth May 5, 1813) was born in Copenhagen (Denmark) in the family of a peasant. He was the youngest in the family and the late child of his father. His parent experienced economic downturns and rises, and at the time of his departure to another world, he did not deprive his offspring of his inheritance. The family was religious and all the children were brought up in veneration and love for God.

At the age of 17, Kierkegaard Seren entered the university to study theology, philosophy and psychology. For eight years, he plunged into a crazy cycle of events related to student life. In 1838 there was a sharp change in the world outlook, and idle amusements ceased to interest the future philosopher. Seren Kierkegaard, whose photo just captured the moment of rethinking the values that had been laid in him since childhood, abruptly changes his view of the world. In particular, he criticizes his faith in God and the immortal soul. In order to find new guidelines and understand Catholicism, Kierkegaard Søren decides to return to the origins and re-learns the Bible and Greek philosophy.

The transition to maturity

His research brings certain fruits in two years - the title of candidate of science in theology. At the same time, the social situation of the young man is changing, he is engaged to his beloved girl and is preparing to become a pastor. In parallel, Kierkegaard Søren completes his dissertation on the master's degree in philosophy, the basis of which was the dialectic of Hegel and the general ideas of the Reformation, viewed from the point of view of irony and Socratic dogmas.

Family Troubles and Philosophical Revelations

In 1841, hopes of becoming a family man leave the philosopher, as he can not find himself, doubts his religious views and decides that he will only burden his bride. The engagement was terminated, and the girl was rejected. Avoiding the scandal, the young man leaves for Berlin. Based on his inferences and sensations, he writes a philosophical work "Ili-Ili", which touches upon questions of ethics and aesthetics. But to the publisher in 1843 it comes with a pseudonym, not a real name - Seren Kierkegaard. Years of life in Germany help a man to recover, but when he returned, a chance encounter with a former lover ignited her former passion again. But after a short time, the man again flies to Berlin and publishes two new manuscripts allegorical about his love. This became the moment when the philosophy of Seren Kierkegaard began to take shape. But even before the publication of his books, the philosopher learns that his ex-bride is getting married. This is his sobering.

The period of criticism and rejection of reality

In addition to fans, Kierkegaard Seren receives critics who unflatteringly respond to the pages of the magazine "Korsar" about his works. In response, the philosopher publishes an article in which he tries to shame and humiliate his critics. This greatly damages his authority in the eyes of society, there are offensive caricatures, evil jokes. Shortly thereafter, another book is published, where the philosophy of Seren Kierkegaard, from the very beginning of his creative and scientific path to the final conclusions, is told on hundreds of pages.

Death in poverty

For many years, Kierkegaard spoke in his books as a preacher, an exponent of the foundations of the Christian faith, while himself, not being a follower of it. At least, he thought so. In 1855, the philosopher founded his own newspaper, but manages to publish only 10 issues before he becomes mortally ill. At the age of 42, Seren Kierkegaard, whose biography shows that even in such a short space of time, one can achieve significant success in philosophy and theology, speak out in this regard in his works, receive critical and laudatory reviews, and die in Denmark. He left behind him only money for burial and unfinished work.

Attitude towards existentialism

The Danish philosopher Seren Kierkegaard, often called the father of existentialism, in his works acted as a fierce critic of rationalism and a devotee of a subjective approach to philosophy. In his opinion, it was precisely this that differed from science based on generally accepted facts. The main question that every person asks himself: "is my existence necessary?" - has thousands of different answers. The philosopher argued that passion - this is subjectivity, and is the reality for every single person. And that the subject for consideration is to take a unique, unique individual who will show his view of the world.

Abstract thinking

Proceeding from the difficult position of Kierkegaard in this matter, we can conclude that he believed the existing only that thing that does not allow itself to think. After all, as soon as we start thinking about something, we interfere in the natural process of the flow of things. So, this object ceases to exist, turning into another, already changed by observation. Therefore, in existential philosophy, the main way to know the world around us was not fabrication, but the experience of events, things, flowing with them, without interrupting their existence.

Freedom and independence

Kierkegaard argued, in contradiction to Hegel, that social history is one continuous tape of necessary events. That is, the characters who went down in history had no choice but to do so, and not otherwise. The inner world of man is subordinated only to him, and what happens in him in no way should touch upon external circumstances. Making every day, hour, moment a new inner choice, a person approaches the Absolute, which is higher than the surrounding world. But at the same time, each decision must be responsible. If, however, the moment of choice is postponed by a person to an indefinite time, circumstances are made for him, and thus the individual loses his self.

Philosophy of despair

Coming into a state of despair, a person loses faith in himself and seeks to get rid of this feeling. And for this it is necessary to remove oneself from being, so that despair is gone. But to escape, to leave, to eliminate oneself is impossible. A person does not realize his great destiny as a spiritual unit, but this is more a general condition than an exception to the rule. And, in Kierkegaard's opinion, this is good. Because only a desperate person can find the strength to move on, cure himself. This is the horror that makes our souls suitable for exaltation.

The ways of existence

Kierkegaard Seren distinguished two ways of existence of the individual: ethical and aesthetic.

The esthete, according to the philosopher, lives the way nature created it. It takes its weak and strong sides, imperfection of the surrounding world and its own significance in it, tries to perceive and accept as much as possible. The main direction of existence of "aesthetics" is pleasure. But given that such a person is always led by external circumstances, he is never free inwardly. Another disadvantage in the existence of an esthete is that he does not manage to achieve a state of complete satisfaction. There is always something more to which one can strive, the pursuit of hedonistic pastime. The esthetic man loses his sense of self, dissolving in the outer world and forgetting the inner world. In order to re-feel himself whole he needs to make an informed choice.

A person who has chosen the ethical side, voluntarily deprives himself of freedom and pleasure "to go with the flow" together with the surrounding world. He equips his reality, making an informed choice, makes an effort on his essence, to inscribe his existence in the framework that he defined himself. In fact, the person creates himself anew, does not alter the circumstances, but does not embrace his natural features, but adjusts them to the reality chosen by him.

About kindness

Philosophy argues that the struggle and unity of good and evil are relative. Each of our choices determines the scale that will be filled more. Kierkegaard believed that good in man is conditioned by freedom, and not vice versa. After all, when you are internally free, you are free to choose whether you are kind or not. This is the position of the esthete. The ethical person initially accepted the rules of morality and can not transgress them. Even when he does not want to be kind, the reality he chooses pushes him toward certain actions.

Awareness of Faith

The highest level of human existence, Kierkegaard believed "knighthood of faith." It was even higher than ethical rules, because it was based on the adoption of God's craft, and not from the moral code. Ethics - the concept of social, faith - individual, individual. And considering your life from this position, a person understands that every individual has a duty to God, and to pay this debt, sometimes you have to transgress ethical laws.

It is known that in Christian morality despair is a form of sin, but if it takes the form of repentance before God and leads to healing, then it is welcomed among the knights of faith. Kierkegaard understood faith as the supreme ability of man, while not denying the mind and morality that help to achieve an understanding of divine revelations.

A special role was assigned by the philosopher to consciousness. He believed that it is only through consciousness that a person can regain his self, reject despair, experience a moral "death" and be reborn as a phoenix. Consciousness was also one of the pillars of faith and freedom. It was achieved in a harmonious equilibrium between the finite and the infinite, the material and the spiritual. It is the maintenance of balance that helps a person to remain himself.

Importance of Kierkegaard's philosophy

Contemporaries of the philosopher could not appreciate it. Then the thinking of the Reformation prevailed, I wanted renewal, novelty, and not immersion in myself and ethical-aesthetic choice. The philosophy of Seren Kierkegaard was briefly retold in newspapers and magazines, without going overboard, which perverted the meaning of what was said. There were many who wanted to throw a stone in a Danish thinker. But he himself believed that this negative glory would benefit those who are really interested in his teaching. After all, it is important that they understand his books, and not try to imitate him and savor the events of his life. Seren Kierkegaard, whose philosophy was often criticized, was able to touch the hearts of a later generation.

After two world conflicts that took place in the 20th century, people again turned to Kierkegaard's works and found in them what they were looking for, otherwise they looked at the world around them. They learned despair and found the strength to be reborn from the ashes. This is exactly what the great philosopher Seren Kierkegaard wrote about.