Søren Kierkegaard was a 19th-century Danish philosopher who is often considered the father of existentialism. His ideas focused on individuality, personal choice, faith, and the meaning of human existence. Unlike many philosophers of his time who built large systematic theories, Kierkegaard emphasized the lived experience of the individual person. He believed that truth is not only something to be understood intellectually but something to be experienced personally and passionately. When people ask what Kierkegaard believed, they are usually exploring his views on existence, faith, anxiety, freedom, and the importance of making authentic life choices. His work continues to influence philosophy, theology, psychology, and literature today.
Who Was Søren Kierkegaard?
Søren Kierkegaard was born in 1813 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and lived until 1855. He wrote extensively about philosophy, religion, and human psychology. Although he was not widely recognized during his lifetime, his ideas later became highly influential.
Kierkegaard often wrote under different pseudonyms, each representing different perspectives or voices in his philosophical exploration. This allowed him to present complex ideas in a creative and indirect way.
Core Idea The Individual Matters Most
One of Kierkegaard’s most important beliefs was that the individual is more important than systems, societies, or abstract theories. He argued that truth must be understood from a personal perspective, not just through universal concepts.
For Kierkegaard, being a human means making choices that define who you are. He believed that each person is responsible for their own life and cannot rely on society or philosophy alone to provide meaning.
Existence and Subjective Truth
Kierkegaard introduced the idea of subjective truth, which means that truth is deeply personal and depends on how a person experiences it. This does not mean that objective facts do not exist, but rather that the most important truths in life are those that affect how we live.
For example, religious belief is not just about intellectual agreement but about personal commitment and faith. In Kierkegaard’s view, understanding life requires more than logic; it requires personal involvement and emotional depth.
Key aspects of subjective truth
- Truth is lived, not just studied
- Personal experience shapes meaning
- Existence is more important than abstract theory
The Concept of Anxiety
Kierkegaard believed that anxiety is a natural part of human existence. He described it not as fear of something specific, but as a feeling of uncertainty that comes with freedom and possibility.
According to him, anxiety arises because humans have the freedom to choose. This freedom creates both opportunity and responsibility, which can feel overwhelming.
He called this feeling the dizziness of freedom, meaning that awareness of limitless possibilities can create emotional tension.
Freedom and Choice
Freedom was central to Kierkegaard’s philosophy. He believed that humans are constantly faced with choices that define their identity. However, freedom also brings responsibility, and this responsibility can lead to anxiety.
Kierkegaard argued that avoiding choice is still a choice. Therefore, every individual must take responsibility for how they live their life.
Types of life choices
- Choosing how to live ethically
- Choosing whether to believe in God
- Choosing personal values and identity
The Three Stages of Life
Kierkegaard described three main stages of human existence the aesthetic stage, the ethical stage, and the religious stage. Each stage represents a different way of living and understanding life.
1. The aesthetic stage
In the aesthetic stage, a person focuses on pleasure, enjoyment, and personal satisfaction. Life is lived for immediate experiences, such as entertainment, beauty, and comfort.
However, Kierkegaard believed that this stage eventually leads to boredom and despair because it lacks deeper meaning.
2. The ethical stage
In the ethical stage, a person begins to take responsibility for their actions and lives according to moral principles. This stage involves commitment, duty, and long-term thinking.
People in this stage seek stability and purpose through ethical living and social responsibility.
3. The religious stage
The religious stage is the highest level in Kierkegaard’s view. It involves a personal relationship with God and a leap of faith beyond rational understanding.
In this stage, individuals accept that faith cannot always be explained logically and must be embraced personally and deeply.
The Leap of Faith
One of Kierkegaard’s most famous ideas is the leap of faith. He believed that some truths, especially religious ones, cannot be reached through logic alone. Instead, they require a personal leap beyond reason.
This does not mean rejecting reason entirely, but recognizing its limits. Faith, for Kierkegaard, is a passionate commitment that goes beyond evidence and certainty.
Criticism of Society and Conformity
Kierkegaard criticized modern society for encouraging conformity and discouraging individuality. He believed that people often lose themselves by following the crowd instead of making personal choices.
He warned that living according to social expectations can prevent individuals from discovering their true selves.
Main criticisms
- Excessive conformity in society
- Lack of personal responsibility
- Overreliance on external approval
Faith and Christianity
Kierkegaard was deeply religious, but his approach to Christianity was highly personal rather than institutional. He believed that true Christianity is about individual faith, not just belonging to a church or following rituals.
He emphasized that faith involves struggle, doubt, and personal commitment rather than easy certainty.
Despair and the Self
Kierkegaard also wrote about despair, which he saw as a condition of the self when it is not aligned with its true purpose. He believed that despair comes from failing to become who one truly is.
He described the self as a relationship that must be balanced between the finite (everyday life) and the infinite (spiritual existence).
Influence of Kierkegaard’s Ideas
Kierkegaard’s ideas influenced many later thinkers, especially in existentialism, theology, and psychology. Philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger built upon his focus on individuality and existence.
His work also influenced modern discussions about identity, mental health, and personal responsibility.
Søren Kierkegaard believed that human life is defined by personal choice, individual responsibility, and subjective truth. He emphasized the importance of living authentically rather than following social expectations or abstract systems. His ideas about anxiety, freedom, faith, and the stages of life highlight the complexity of human existence.
At the heart of Kierkegaard’s philosophy is the belief that each person must confront their own life honestly and make meaningful choices that define who they are. His work continues to inspire people to think deeply about identity, purpose, and what it means to truly exist as an individual.