The Concept of Existence in the Concluding Unscientific PostscriptThe writings of Kierkegaard continue to be a fertile source for con temporary philosophical thought. Perhaps the most interesting of his works to a philosopher is the Concluding Unscientific Postscript to the Philosophical Fragments. The Fragments is a brief, algebraic piece in which the author attempts to put forward the central teachings of Christianity in philosophical terminology. The. work is addressed to a reader who has a philosophical bent and who may therefore be tempted to relate to Christianity via such questions as: Can the truth of Christian ity be established? The analysis of the Fragments establishes that this way of relating to Christianity is misguided, since Christianity and phil osophy are categorically different. Having done this, the author turns his attention in the Postscript to the question of how an individual human being can properly establish a relationship to Christianity. In order to become a Christian, one must first of all exist. "Nothing more than thatP' one may be tempted to think. Yet at the very core of the Postscript is the notion that to exist as an individual human being is difficult. The author goes so far as to claim that men have forgotten what it means to exist. |
Contents
B Kierkegaards Authorship | 4 |
The Philosophical Fragments | 14 |
The Concluding Unscientific Postscript | 25 |
Copyright | |
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The Concept of Existence in the Concluding Unscientific Postscript R.H. Johnson Limited preview - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract thought analysis Ardrey attempt authorship become a Christian believe Bronowski Chapter claim Climacus calls Climacus says Collins community's mode concept concern contrast-form death dialectical dialogue difficult discussion Einstein essential eternal ethical exclusively cognitive existential existing individual fact faith forgetting forgetting-claim forgotten Fragments G. E. M. Anscombe G. H. von Wright Hegel Hereafter cited Ibid important indirect individual human individual's interpretation inwardness Italics kind knowledge lay reader Ludwig Wittgenstein MacPherson Mario Bunge means to exist Michael Polanyi mind mode of existence nature objective thought one's passion person philosophy of science point of view possible Post Postscript precisely Price problem pseudonymous question reality reason reflection relationship religious scientific community scientific community's scientific theory sense significance Socrates someone Søren Kierkegaard speak speculative philosophy subjective thinker task of becoming term texts things thinking Translated truly human existence understand Walter Lowrie Wittgenstein writes York Ziman