PHIL 312 Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), sometimes referred to as “the father of existentialism”, was a sharp critic of modern philosophy, institutionalized religion, and what he called “the present age”. For Kierkegaard, the fundamental problem of philosophy was to describe what it means and what it takes to become human—suggesting, ironically, that it is possible for a human being not to be human. The primary purpose of this course is to read Kierkegaard’s most influential texts closely, situate them in their historical and philosophical context (namely, early 19th Century Western Europe), and draw out their contemporary relevance, paying particular attention to the concepts of irony, anxiety, despair, love, and faith.