Søren Kierkegaard

Lore & Background

Kierkegaard was born to an affluent family in Copenhagen as the youngest of seven children. His mother, Ane Sørensdatter Lund Kierkegaard, had served as a maid before marrying his father, Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard, a devoutly Christian wool merchant from Jutland. His father was interested in philosophy and hosted intellectuals at home, influencing Kierkegaard's early devotion to Wolffian rationalism. Kierkegaard attended the School of Civic Virtue from 1821 to 1830, studying Latin, Greek, and history, and later studied theology at the University of Copenhagen. He described himself as wanting to lead a completely human life, not merely one of knowledge.

Reader's Guide

Kierkegaard's significance lies in his foundational role in existentialist philosophy, emphasizing subjective truth, personal choice, and the individual's relationship with God through faith. His theological work focused on Socratic Christian ethics, the infinite qualitative distinction between man and God, and criticism of state-controlled Christianity, such as the Church of Denmark. His psychological work explored emotions and feelings when facing life choices. Initially limited to Scandinavia, his writings were translated into French, German, and other major European languages by the turn of the 20th century, and by the mid-20th century his thought exerted substantial influence on philosophy, theology, and Western culture. His use of pseudonyms and complex dialogue in early works, along with concepts like angst, the knight of faith, and the three stages on life's way, continue to shape discussions of authenticity and commitment.

Did You Know?

• Kierkegaard wrote over 7,000 pages in his journals, which are considered one of the most important sources for understanding his philosophy.
• He was extremely critical of the doctrine and practice of Christianity as a state-controlled religion, like the Church of Denmark.
• His early work was written using pseudonyms who presented distinctive viewpoints and interacted in complex dialogue.
• Kierkegaard's father, Michael, was a devoutly Christian wool merchant who hosted intellectuals at his home and was devoted to the rationalist philosophy of Christian Wolff.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Journal entry, Gilleleie (1 August 1835) Journals 1A; this is considered to be one of the earliest statements of existentialist thought." — Søren Kierkegaard "Variant translation: I must find a truth that is true for me." — Søren Kierkegaard "There are many people who reach their conclusions about life like schoolboys; they cheat their master by copying the answer out of a book without having worked out the sum for themselves." — Søren Kierkegaard "God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but He does what is still more wonderful: He makes saints out of sinners." — Søren Kierkegaard