Kierkegaard' s view concerning epistemology, ethics and metaphysics.

Kierkegaard 's Philosophy

Soren Kierkegaard is an extraordinary figure in the history of philosophy . He may be very multi- dimensional in his concerns and a bit enigmatic in his approach , theless his writings have immense influence on twentieth century thought

Kierkegaard 's works such as The Concept of Anxiety and The Sickness into Death highlights that according to this great philosopher- metaphysics of the existing individual is explicitly expressed in terms of :- a ) a series of classical metaphysical polarities and b ) the synthesis of these polarities in a set

of positive third terms . The self is understood within a framework of three dialectical relations- immediacy self reflexivity and God relation . The first relation is the psycho somatic unity i .e . the synthesis of two finite terms- the factical body and the principle of animation and soul . The second relation is made possible by the `waking of the spirit ' and the emergence of self 's reflexive consciousness When there is failure to successfully synthesize the polarities that emerge in the second relation , the situation is referred to as mis-relation or despair . The problem of despair is a result of the shared nature of several polarities- one pole being the factical (finitude , actuality and necessity ) and the other being hyperbolic (infinitude , actuality and possibility To be human is therefore a contradiction in itself . To these two polarities of factical and hyperbolic nature , may be added a third which is absolutely essential for understanding the emergence of self consciousness . The third relation i .e . the God relation is , however , the harbinger of a much more complex picture . The balance and synthesis fade away- a person of faith sides with the eternal rather than the temporal . The God relation also reveals the impossibility of achieving synthetic balance . The movement from immediacy to self reflexivity and that from self reflexivity to god relation makes a qualitative ontological change in the mode of one 's being

Kierkegaard presents his authorship as a dialectical progression of three existential stages . The first is aesthetic which gives way to ethical and which in turn gives way to religious . The term ethics in Kierkegaard 's works has more than one meaning It is used to denote both a ) limited existential sphere superceded by higher stage of religious life and b ) an aspect of life retained even within religious life . In the first sense , synonymous with Hegelian notion , ethics represent the prevailing social norms . They are seen to be the highest court of appeal for judging human affairs . Kierkegaard , however recognizes the duties to a power higher than social norms Individuals often recognize this duty to obey God 's command But in to raise oneself beyond a merely aesthetic life characterized by imagination , possibility , sensation one needs to make commitments . The aesthetic needs to choose the ethical which entails a commitment to communication and decision procedures

Kierkegaard 's works show that the metaphysics of his philosophy is God , who is universal and eternal . Truth is inside the mind and...