Abstract
This paper considers how Soren Kierkegaard in his work "Sickness Unto Death" examines the nature of the human being specifically in terms of Christianity. Kierkegaard was an early proponent of a philosophy that would become Existentialism, expressed as a reaction to the abstract rationalism of Hegel. The paper further discusses that when Kierkegaard refers to the "sickness unto death," he is referring to a lack of awareness of the self, which he says afflicts those who are not Christians. He also refers to the sickness unto death as despair and so as a sickness of the spirit, with the human being described as spirit.

From the Paper
"Soren Kierkegaard in his work 'Sickness Unto Death' examines the nature of the human being specifically in terms of Christianity. Kierkegaard was an early proponent of a philosophy that would become Kierkegaard describes the mind as awakening itself to self-awareness by following a series of stages leading to universal consciousness and to Absolute Thought. Those suffering from the sickness unto death do not experience this level of development, of course, for they are beset by a despair that Kierkegaard describes as an "agonizing contradiction, this sickness in the self, everlastingly to die, to die and yet not to die, to die the death. For dying means that it is all over, but dying the death means to live to experience death; and if for a single instant this experience is possible, it is tantamount to experiencing it forever" (Chapter 1 Section C)."

Tags:kierkegaard, sickness, death

Abstract
The paper explains that by being conscious of a higher sense of self when creating an artistic project, Kierkegaard was acutely aware of the need for aesthetics to be a necessary and practical part of life. The paper explains that when one is acting "inwardly" through Kierkegaard' s definition of the term, the person is acting without the need to seek approval from the outer world.

Tags:kierkegaard, study, european

Abstract
This paper explains that, in "The Sickness unto Death", Soren Kierkegaard elucidates how despair is part of the Christian psychological awakening, which the author of this paper believes is similar to the theme and tone of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The paper explains that the risk taking propensity of adolescents and the corresponding consequences, as presented by Erikson's 5th stage of psycho-social development, goes well with Kierkegaard's ideas. The paper also relates that Kierkegaard is advocating for an authentic Christianity, first of all before God and then in front of others. Additionally, the paper relates that Kierkegaard wrote the book as a guide for the understanding of self and the necessity of faith.

From the Paper
"Weaknesses in the evangelical world critiqued by Kierkegaard include the fact that many participate in Christian activity and yet do not become a self. Faith, wisdom (and self?) are not arrived at as a 'matter of course". He challenges that "he who defends it (Christianity) has never believed it. If he believes, then the enthusiasm of faith is not a defense - no, it is attack and victory; a believer is a victor" (p. 87). He also discusses sin and from my understanding would not want to place sin in categories or on a hierarchical ladder".

Tags:solitude, necessity, understanding, faith, erikson

Abstract
This paper relates that, in his book "Fear and Trembling", Soren Kierkegaard considers Abraham's climbing up the mountains to sacrifice his son, even though Abraham could not understand the command, as an act of blind and ultimate faith. The author points out that the concept of infinite resignation---when the tragic hero tries to make major leaps of faith and hopes to get nothing in return because he believes to have submitted to faith---is used by Kierkegaard in rather negative terms. The paper relates that, compared to infinite resignation, a knight of faith believes that acts of faith must be done repeatedly and regularly, feels that these acts must be "made in virtue of the absurd" and considers that the reward comes in the form of "gaining the finite".

From the Paper
"Knight of faith is described as someone who gives up everything for faith but believes to be amply rewarded for all his actions. He is a simple man with an honest and sincere belief that he will be rewarded. Abraham as a knight of faith "The knight of faith is someone who is able to remain fully committed to an absurd action with faith that, as Kierkegaard says, through the absurd the object which was resigned will be granted back through the infinite." Infinite is something that is not within the boundaries of rationale and the phenomenon is unexplainable because when one accepts the repercussions of an action and acts..."

Tags:abraham, knight, faith, resignation, repetition

Abstract
This paper explains that Soren Kierkegaard's philosophical classic, "Fear and Trembling", tells the story of Abraham and Isaac from the Old Testament in a series of versions. The author stresses that Abraham is not a murderer but a man of the faith, as shown in his act of resignation to the absurdity of God and the teleological suspension of the ethical that is its result. The paper relates that Abraham, the "Knight of Faith", obeys God, sacrifices Isaac, but fears God's wrath and dwells with the pain of the loss of the beloved firstborn; but the second, true Abraham is the "Knight of Infinite Resignation", who obeys God in action, but knows in his heart that God is good and something will happen so that he will gain back all he has lost.

From the Paper
"Critical to Kierkegaard's thesis of the greatness of Abraham as a "Knight of Infinite Resignation" is the notion of the teleological suspension of the ethical. This refers to the fact that, because it is God's request, Abraham does an action that he knows is wrong. Kierkegaard stresses that merely because God tells Abraham to do something, this does not make the sacrifice of Isaac right. Rather, Abraham agrees to sacrifice his own morality because of his absolute trust, faith, and resignation in the will and the goodness of God. This level of trust is absurd, of course. How will the murder be prevented? But it is also absurd that God would give Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, long after the two were too old to have children."

Tags:abraham, isaac, sacrifice, good, pain

Abstract
This paper discusses journalistic ethics, according to the views of philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. It begins with a brief look at the various theories of journalistic ethics that have held sway in the past. The paper then presents cases demonstrating their inadequacies. It then re-examines those cases under the Kierkegaardian system of teleological suspension of the ethical qua journalism and discusses the possible objections to and complications of this approach.

From the Paper
"In the organic process through which ethical weeds inevitably sprout wherever civilization ploughs fresh soil, modern society may have broached a new continent. Surely this can be said with respect to journalism. Technological advances, innovative political tactics, and the ever-more competitive relationship between government and press all contribute to a proliferation of ethical dilemmas for which there exists no adequately vigorous effort to account. When the old approaches to journalistic ethics, having never foreseen the complexity our times, prove themselves antiquated, journalists must pursue new ways to understand the ethics of their craft. The answer, I submit, lies in the writings of nineteenth century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, whose sees the finite nature of ethical dimensions and transcends them through a teleological suspension of the ethical. Before wading into the intricacies of Kierkegaard, though, I would first like to sketch the structure of this essay."

Tags:teleological, suspension, news, magazine

Abstract
This paper will discuss the Kierkegaard's thinking on both theology and faith. It will be argued that at the heart of his discussion of both issues is his critique of the inherent weaknesses of traditional theology. It will be seen that Kierkegaard perceived the damage that modern theology - rooted in Scriptural textual analysis - was capable of inflicting upon Christianity. Thus, Kierkegaard argues for a faith based upon paradox and belief instead of reason or theology. The significance of this perspective is that it allows for the existence of faith in a secular age where textually foundationed theology is no longer capable of survival as a coherent tradition.

Abstract
This paper discusses the arguments of Soren Kierkegaard and C.S. Lewis regarding whether the existence of God can be proven by reason and logic. Kierkegaard's Against Proof in Religion and Lewis' Mere Christianity are the primary sources. The paper concludes that Lewis offers convincing logical proof that God exists.

Abstract
This paper discusses Kierkegaard's three stages of life; aesthetic, ethical, and religious. The paper explains that each of these stages of life is experienced at different stages depending on the choices people make and the reflection of their inward selves. The paper argues that the religious stage was the higher stage to reach and anyone reaching this stage had to leap to faith.

From the Paper
""It is not so much as what is believed as it is how it is believed" ("Truth as Subjectivity"). Soren Kierkegaard believed in the importance of a leap into religion and he believed that it was not as important as to what a person believed, but the way he experienced his belief. Soren Kierkegaard has three stages of life: Aesthetic, ethical, and religious. Each of these stages of life is experienced at different stages depending on the choices people make and the reflection of their inward selves. Aesthetic or First Stage of Life: The first stage of life according to Kierkegaard is aesthetic and this..."

Tags:aesthetic, ethical, religious

Abstract
This paper examines the philosophy of Kierkegaard and judges it as a precursor to existentialism, showing how Kierkegaard reacts against the overtly rational and materialistic agenda of 18th century Enlightenment. The paper explains that the quest for certainty and objectivity led to a concentration on surface phenomena and failed to come to terms with profound inner essence of man, and illustrates how this gives rise to the Kierkegaardian concept of anxiety. The paper draws parallels to modern existentialism, which dwells entirely on anxiety and ignores the religious question of faith. The paper also establishes parallels to Kant's concept of the sublime, pointing out Kierkegaard's belief that institutional Christianity had departed a long way from what he describes as the natural faith. The paper concludes that Kierkegaard posits faith as overcoming anxiety, and his description of anxiety is only a means towards his justification of faith.

From the Paper
"After the Christian element is taken out, much of Kierkegaard's thought coincides with the body of philosophy that has emerged in the twentieth century under the epithet of existentialism. Yet his categorization as an existentialist philosopher remains problematic. The new strain of thought had emerged from a strictly atheistic backdrop, and the aim is to find an expression for the transcendence of existence, but without invoking the concept of religious faith. Apart from these considerations, Kierkegaard was not widely known or read beyond his own country Denmark, so it is also difficult to assess him as being an influence on the later group. Interest in his writings begin in the twentieth century, and from which point a general consensus has been built that the musings of Kierkegaard must be regarded as a precursor to modern existentialism, despite bearing religious intent."

Tags:angst, uncertainty, Soren, inner, essence, leap, faith, transcendence, Kant