On Kierkegaard and Existentialism

Although we regard Kierkegaard as the "father of modern existentialism", he was a devout Orthodox Christian. One may think that existentialism is incompatible with Christianity, and that it would be almost impossible for them to coexist, but Kierkegaard thought otherwise. What I hope to bring forth in this short discursive is the meat of Kierkegaard's thought and an explanation for the importance of his ideas in our age today.

Existentialism is found where there is a loss of meaning. But where is meaning to be found? The ancient greeks regarded meaning to be found in the heuristics of the definition, that is, to come closer and ever closer to absolute knowledge. As Plato thought, the Forms (the unchanging objects beyond experience), were the focal point of all knowledge, since the one who would be able to attain the forms would have had to simplify the infinite complexity of individual objects to their grander, universal simplicity. For example, to see a Horse, pure and simple, instead of thinking of a particular horse, is pure knowledge. What Plato thought was the noble path of humanity, was to come to a knowledge of one's own soul, untainted by all the experience of life, all the particulars of emotion and external influences - everything that adds complexity to the soul. To see one's soul for what it is is the highest state of knowledge, and as so, the highest purpose one can strive towards.

To compare with Aristotle, growth and evolution was thought to be the purpose of existence. Just as a tree begins as a small plant, we do not say that it is worthless at that moment. We wait for it to grow, since we know that it has not yet reached the fullness of its purpose. Aristotle applied the same concept to human beings, and regarded their purpose as being fulfilled through growing - but growing towards what?

With Kierkegaard, to recognise oneself as an individual, separate from all others and with a distinct purpose, is the highest purpose. And this he thought could be attained through silence. All the opinions, judgements, fears, worries, anxieties, jealousies towards the world - the world as the aggregate of all other individuals - hinder self-realisation and actually diminishes our capacity to be individuals. Look at the lillies of the field! Do you ever see a certain lilly bloom in the wintertime because it refuses to act like the others? Does it ever complain about being a lilly, or even compare itself to other lillies? No! They just are. They exist just as God made them. And can we say that the lilly, upon flowering in the summer, has reached its point of highest life, or is headed towards shrivelling up and fading away? To us these questions may seem to matter, because then the purpose of the lilly strikes us hard in inquiry. But even so, is the lilly worried about this part in its existence? Does it get upset and die prematurely out of grief? No, it actually does its best effort to survive with the resources its given, not caring whether its summer or wintertime, but indifferently blossoms in the summertime, and shrivels in the winter.

So the noise of the world, and all the questions regarding our existence, actually serves as pure distraction from realising our true individuality. Silence from the world is the only way to even think original thoughts.

But once one has segregated himself from everything, what then? How do we realise our purpose? Do we have a specific vocation that will come by divine inspiration? Well, Kierkegaard had a different question in mind.

We are all familiar with being lost in the so called "infinite". To choose and to act is the greatest internal conflict one can experience. One can live one's life in a multitide of ways. One may want to dedicate his life to many things, but really will only thrive upon choosing one option. As such we all hover over indecision in some way or another, keeping ourselves occupied in a terrible void, which is characterised by a terrifying lack. To realise this lack, this tension of indecision as to how one will live, is the source of one's existentialism. And to confront this abyss of meaninglessnes is the only way one can move forward in this life - and this is to act. It is pure action. Kierkegaard detested those who mull over what could be, or what should be, or what would be, for these are all passive adjuncts to the future. They also indicate the loss of the present moment. Thus, to be aware of the present moment, and to take action in the present moment, is the highest meaning one can grasp in life. To choose a noble path and to act towards it and to not drift is something Kierkegaard pushes and encourages us to all do.

And so where does Christianity fit in all this? To be a Christian, Kierkegaard thought, is not a tentative decision, nor is it something that can be diluted to suit a secular hedonism or an aesthetic life. In other words, there is no liminal space with regard to being a Christian. One cannot call himself a Christian and not be a Christian. Either you are an aesthetic hedonist, or you are a Christian, and that's it. You cannot have features from both, because they are incompatible; they are mutually exclusive.

In this line of reasoning, to decide and to act on being a Christian, Kierkegaard thought, is the path towards true individualism. Christianity is the only way one can know oneself, for it leads one to act in the way God intended us to act. To be in harmony with God's purpose then, gives us true individuality, since God is the one who ultimately granted us all our idiosyncrasies. The real benefit of being Christian is that one becomes uniquely an individual, since he is completely separate from the influences of the world.

What separates Kierkegaard from the ancient Greeks mentioned above, is his focus on individual Truth. Kierkegaard does not ever imply that truth is relative to individuals, but rather that every individual has their own personal way to striving towards Truth. There is only one truth, but everyone understands it differently. In Mathematics, Algebra is sometimes used for problems and Vectors for others, but the method does not make the solution invalid, and rather reveals that each problem is dealt with effectively on a case by case basis. Just so, the individual with their own method, will strive to attain the Truth.

What is there not to benefit from Kierkegaard! And how radical is his approach to Christianity!

Well, the most valuable thing to take from him is to act when appropriate, especially if it is for the good. Do not hesitate to strive towards what is good and meaningful!