Introduction to Soren Kierkegaard

Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher and theologian, was born on May 5, 1813, to Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard and Anne Sørensdatter Lund. His father, a deeply religious man influenced by a strict form of Lutheran Christianity, played a crucial role in shaping Søren’s worldview. From a young age, Kierkegaard grew up in an environment dominated by a sense of guilt, sinfulness, and divine judgment. His father’s stern religious beliefs instilled in him an acute awareness of human imperfection and the necessity of faith. Michael’s troubled conscience further added to this somber upbringing, as he believed that certain sins he had committed—such as cursing God as a child and marrying a servant after becoming wealthy—had brought divine punishment upon their family. This belief was reinforced by the early deaths of five of Søren’s six siblings, which his father interpreted as a manifestation of God’s wrath. Consequently, Kierkegaard lived under the heavy burden of existential anxiety and an overwhelming sense of inherited guilt, leading him to deeply engage with themes of sin, faith, and salvation in his later writings.

Despite the weight of his upbringing, Kierkegaard displayed remarkable intellectual abilities. He pursued theological studies, completing his degree in 1841 with a thesis titled On the Concept of Irony with Particular Reference to Socrates. This work, written partly to fulfill his father’s wishes, reflected his early engagement with philosophical thought and critical inquiry. However, his personal life was marked by emotional struggles, particularly in his relationship with Regine Olsen. Although he was deeply in love with her and became engaged in 1840, he ultimately chose to break off the engagement. He feared that marriage would divert him from his spiritual and philosophical calling, seeing himself as someone destined for a life of sacrifice and existential struggle, much like the biblical Abraham. Regine’s heartbreak haunted him, and she became a recurring figure in his writings, symbolizing the tension between personal happiness and higher spiritual duty.

Kierkegaard’s philosophical work is best known for its exploration of human existence, faith, and the struggle for meaning. In 1843, he published Either/Or, a profound examination of life’s choices, structured around the contrast between the aesthetic and ethical ways of living. This was followed by Fear and Trembling and Repetition, both of which delved into themes of faith, sacrifice, and human suffering. One of his most influential ideas was the concept of the "three stages of life"—the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious—which depicted the journey toward authentic faith. He was also a vocal critic of Hegelian philosophy, rejecting its systematic approach to truth, and he strongly opposed the complacency of the Danish Lutheran Church. His works, including Philosophical Fragments, The Concept of Dread, and The Sickness Unto Death, emphasized despair, faith, and human identity, challenging both philosophical and religious conventions.

Later in life, Kierkegaard intensified his attacks on the Danish State Church, accusing it of distorting true Christianity. His relentless critiques, expressed in works like Christian Discourses and The Sickness Unto Death, made him a controversial figure, often ridiculed in public. In 1855, while in the midst of his campaign against the church, he suffered paralysis and was hospitalized. Even on his deathbed, he refused to accept the clergy’s assistance, remaining steadfast in his criticism of institutionalized religion. He passed away on November 11, 1855, holding firm to his belief in God’s grace.

Despite living a troubled and solitary life, Kierkegaard’s writings have profoundly influenced philosophy, theology, and literature. Recognized as the "father of existentialism," his ideas continue to challenge and inspire scholars, existentialists, and theologians. His works push readers to confront the deepest questions of human existence and to navigate the tension between faith and reason.