The Father of Existentialism: Soren Kierkegaard

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During the late 19th and 20th centuries, several philosophers debated on the doctrine differences that all philosophical thinking begin with the human in terms of thinking, acting and feeling. The fundamental concepts of the externalist philosophers are that they believed that the existence of human conditions is the main problem to share similar ontology. Soren Kierkegaard is considered to be the father of existentialism. Although, he did not use the word ‘existentialism’, but initially the concept that no society or religion is the main cause that leads an individual to live a life with sincerity or passionately. It is perhaps his own beliefs and feeling that makes him to feel that way (Wartenberg). Similarly, Martin Buber (1878-1965) is well known for his philosophy of dialogues including I-Thou relationship and I-It relationship. Different philosophers have presented their explanations to describe the relationship of a man with the life such as Martin Buber, Steve Biko, axel Barnes, Karl Barth, William James, Soern Kierkegaard, John Macquarrie, etc. This paper aims to compare, contrast, and evaluate the philosophies of Soern Kierkegaard and Martin Buber.
Soern Kierkegaard’s philosophy mainly emphasizes on three main conditions of human that are anxiety, boredom and despair. His writings have emphasized on diagnosing the main cause of these conditions that drives physical and mental states of a human to get engaged in spiritual and religious beliefs (Wartenberg). On the contrary, Martin Buber studies the relationship between humans and the way they are related to the world. He states that the human views objects with respect to their functions in order to assess them. According to Kierkegaard, every living organism including ...

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...t being religious is through the relationship of a human being with others (Wartenberg). The sense of viewing others on the basis of their usefulness and objectivity eventually restrains the meaning of I-thou and makes it I-It. According to Kierkegaard, being religious is an individual’s personal commitment and dedication towards God that is often distracted with the presence of churches and falsely people around them. On the contrary, Buber highlights that the God does actually come to life; He actually helps people in terms of objects or other human being. In the both cases, the presence of God is materialized that is either by means of satisfaction that is personal or interpersonal.

Works Cited

Stewart, J. B. (2011). Kierkegaard and Existentialism. Burlington: Ashtage Publishing Company.
Wartenberg, T. E. (2013). Existentialism. Oxford: Oneworld Publications

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