Biography

Soren Kierkegaard could not lead a normal life. He is considered unphilosophical in some ways because he doesn’t address many of the questions most philosophers did or do. Outcasted from society, he published many extensive works that changed how the world thought. Although he disagreed with Hegel, Hegel infatuated him at the same time. Kierkegaard was no ordinary human. His emotional, physical and mental abilities were much different than the average person at the time. The individual itself mattered, not the world. His pressing question is; “What did it mean to be alive?”
 * Introduction: **



 Growing up to be very critical of society, the traits Kierkegaard learned to protect himself as a child would further his career in literature. On May 5, 1813, Soren Kierkegaard was born in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark (Strathern). Since his childhood at home was harsh and dismal, he was an odd child at school that didn’t fit in. His bitter sense of sarcasm and irony were gained throughout the bullying and his own home life. According to Strather, Kierkegaard considered himself the center of attention because he was always the center of attention in his mind. Sjavik states in his essay that Kierkegaard’s father was deeply religious, and his sense of guilt led him to believe that his children wouldn’t live beyond 33 because of a sin he had committed. Since Kierkegaard senior was obsessively religious, many of his own views were imprinted on his son. Strathern believes that the shock of finding out Kierkegaard’s father might have impregnated his mother out of wedlock, and while his first wife was dying, made Kierkegaard later sink into a deep depression. Kierkegaard’s father mentally abused him as a child by making him go on “trips” in his study and making him describe every scrutinizing detail the sites he saw (Strathern). However, this helped Kierkegaard’s own writing and philosophical lifestyle by greatly improving his ability to put himself in any situation. Strathern comments, Kierkegaard became his father’s favorite child which resulted in positive and negative outcomes. Like some other parents, he imposed his own beliefs and values into Kierkegaard. On the other hand, Kierkegaard accumulated his father’s knowledge and logic (Strathern). Kierkegaard did instill his own sins and accursed attitude as well, and he proves this by writing in his journal, “Poor child, you are living in silent despair.” (Strathern).
 * Childhood: **



Kierkegaard attended the School of Civic Virtue to prepare for ministry, but philosophy still held his interests (Sjavik). Since his father had imposed religion on him, he still had to find his path. While enrolled at the University of Copenhagen, he seemed like the typical student. (Strathern). He was drastically different in elementary school under his father’s strict rule. He know could fit into other social circles instead of being an outcast. According to Strathern, Kierkegaard was taught at a young age to never show his full potential. No one around Kierkegaard knew about how truly intelligent he was. He became very interested in Hegel, as his philosophy spread like wildfire throughout Germany (Strathern). Strathern writes that Kierkegaard Senior came clean to his son about the mistakes and sins he made which greatly impacted Kierkegaard. The fact that his own life might have been a sin against God sent him spiraling out of control. His life at the University was affected, and thus began his struggle against poor choices.
 * Education: **



Since Kierkegaard’s father was always a looming presence in his own life and choices, he also affected Kierkegaard’s personal life. After Kierkegaard learned of his father’s guilt, he began participating in harmful behavior. According to Strathern, he visited a bordello, where he had his first and only sexual experience. This consequently turned into a mess, but it sent him closer to finding someone he would fall in love with. After having a religious breakthrough, Kierkegaard was able to make amends with his father and return to God, shortly before Kierkegaard senior died. Soon Soren Kierkegaard became one of the wealthiest and elite bachelors in Copenhagen (Strathern). Eventually Regine Olsen captured his heart. Sadly, Regine wasn't able to see that Kierkegaard’s infatuation was purely spiritual, for his acts of courting were normal in that age (Heydt). Kierkegaard was no ordinary man. He would want to discuss the meanings of books that he sent her, and would often instruct her how to interpret them (Heydt). He treated her similarly to how his father treated him as a child. Deep inside he knew it was wrong, and part of him probably realized he was like his father. Although he truly loved Regine, he couldn’t ever have a normal life. In every physical and mental aspect he was different than most human beings. If he wanted to be able to focus on religion and his life work, then he had to give her up. Kierkegaard tried to get Regine to break off the engagement, so he would not have to bear the rumors and disgrace (Heydt). According to Heydt, the guilt eventually drowned him, which made him question everything about his own faith by asking himself, “How is it possible to become truly Christian in Christendom?” After finally breaking off his engagement, he fled to Berlin (Sjavik).
 * Relationships: **



After he fled to Berlin, Kierkegaard attended lectures by Schelling, which were also attended by many different scholars such as Bakunin, Burckhardt, and Engels (Strathern). According to Strathern, all the geniuses that attended were trying to rid themselves of Hegel’s persuasive ideas. All of them seemed to hate Hegel’s ideas, yet they were still intrigued by him. Much of what we hate or disagree with makes us who we are. Kierkegaard didn’t work with any other philosophers because of his own introvertism. He instead desired to change the ways of thinking. Although he completely argued that he disagreed with Hegel, much of Kierkegaard’s own writing and ideas were influenced by him (Strathern).
 * Colleagues: **



Soren Kierkegaard dedicated most of his life to explore Christianity and the “paradox of faith” by writing many books and articles (Sjavik). Ironically, although he was a devout Christian, he wrote 21 articles that demeaned the Danish institutional church (Heydt). According to Sjavik, Kierkegaard used series of pseudonyms, which were his most significant literary devices. Kierkegaard began his most remarkable work, Either/Or, which started a thirteen year old writing period (Sjavik). One other significant work Kierkegaard completed was Fear and Trembling. Strathern states, “In this work Kierkegaard examines the notion of faith”. Kierkegaard soon became an outcast of society after he was discovered at the author of these works. His wit and irony pushed him farther to criticize society and the Church. Although he focused mainly on religious works, his most important philosophical work was Concluding Unscientific Postscript (Sjavik).
 * Major Publications: **

Even in Kierkegaard’s last years, he fought till the very end. Kierkegaard started a magazine called The Moment months before he died (Strathern). According to Strathern, “In it he attacked the church as ‘a machine,’ castigating one of its much-loved bishops as a worldly hypocrite. His anger for the Danish Church burned from his father’s rigid religious teachings, and from that Kierkegaard believed many people were only “Sunday Christians”. Strathern comments that Kierkegaard’s body and mind fell to fragility, and eventually he lost his will to live. However, Strathern states, “But he [Kierkegaard] never lost faith. Those who saw him remarked on the radiant eyes that enlivened his emaciated face, and his air of serenity”. After becoming ill, he traveled to the Royal Frederik’s hospital where he died six weeks later (Sjavik). He left his possessions to Regine, symbolizing he never truly stopped loving her. She became an important aspect in some of his most famous works. At Kierkegaards funeral, groups protested the Church, which is exactly what he would have wanted (Strathern). Even in death he could spite those he believed to be wrong, and create scandal within his town.
 * Death: **

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Heydt, Bruce. "1854: Three Voices Wake A Sleeping Church." Christian History & Biography 82 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(2004): 43-45. MasterFILE Elite. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sjåvik, Jan. "Søren Kierkegaard." Magill’S Survey Of World Literature, Revised Edition (2009): <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 1-5. Literary Reference Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Strathern, Paul. Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes. Chicago: I.R. Dee, 1997. Print.