Comparing Kierkegaard's Fear And Trembling

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The following essay will discuss the distinction drawn between Kierkegaard's idea of the Knight of Infinite Resignation and the Knight of Faith, as discussed in ‘Fear and Trembling’. As well as discussion on why Kierkegaard saw the necessity of this distinction, and the criticisms this has faced. To eventually arrive at the conclusion that the Knight of Faith is ultimately incomprehensible but it is that incomprehensibility which defines it as different to the Knight of Infinite Resignation, the Tragic Hero and the Aesthetic Hero. the Hero’s will be discussed due to the question being narrow in its sole focus on the Knights, and so one decided to hold a further decision on what solidified Abraham as a Knight of Faith rather than any other category. Although ‘Fear and Trembling’ was written under the pseudonym Johannes de Silentio, …show more content…

For Kierkegaard religion is based solely on faith, and faith immediately follows one's philosophical concept of the world. Religion is the relationship between the finite self and the infinite universal that is God, as we finite beings look towards the infinite in faith. This is important when one considers the significance of Abraham as a figure in Christianity. The reason that some people are remembered as great is due to them exceeding expectations, Kierkegaard explains that “everyone shall be remembered, but each became great in proportion to his expectation” (Kierkegaard, 1843). Meaning that the man who expects the possible becomes great, but it is only those who expect the impossible who become greater than all. And this is how Kierkegaard explains Abraham to be remembered as a great man of the Bible because he expected the impossible by believing that Isaac would be returned after the

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