Pascalian Themes in the Philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard

• Authors: Stefania Lubańska
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The paper analyses Pascalian motifs in Sǿoren Kierkegaard’s philosophy. The Danish philosopher can be considered the follower of Pascal in respect to the dialectical concept of human condition. For both philosophers, despair and faith constitute two categories which are inseparable from human existence. Therefore, the views that the French philosopher’s concepts anticipated the thought of “the father of existentialism” seem well-grounded. However, the paper does not aim at indicating the similarities and differences between the two philosophical theories. Instead, it focuses upon those aspects of Pascal’s reflections and also his biography, to which the Copenhagen philosopher directly referred. Kierkegaard knew the philosophy of his predecessor and highly appreciated it. He emphasized that Pascal’s interpretation of humility, suffering, God-man paradox, and the importance of paradoxical mode of thinking were crucial for Christian approach. What is significant is the fact that Kierkegaard wrote about such problems in his Journals, addressing these issues directly, without using pseudonyms, which were typical of his other writings.

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric
• Year: 2010
• Issue: 20(33)
• Pages: 89-98

Contributors

author

Stefania Lubańska

• Pedagogical University, Krakow