Abstract: J. he Concluding Unscientific Postscript is generally regarded as the most philosophically significant of Kierkegaard's works. In terms of a subjectivistic orientation it seems to present both an elaborate critique of the pretensions of the Hegelian philosophy and an existential analysis which points to the Christian faith as the only solution to the human predicament. Furthermore, on the basis of such a straightforward reading of the text, Kierkegaard has been both vilified as an irrationalist and praised as a profound existential thinker who has uncovered the only legitimate starting point for a philosophical analysis of the religious life and a Chris tian apologetic. The aim of this paper is to suggest that any such reading in volves a radical misunderstanding of Kierkegaard's intent. Given the supposition that the Postscript is to be regarded as a contribu tion to religious or existential philosophy, the charge of irra tionalism is irrefutable. Viewed as an anti-idealistic philosophical thesis, the doctrine that truth is subjectivity not only leads to a consistent misologism, but also implies the ultimate identification of Christianity and nonsense. However, when this result is under stood in light of Johannes Climacus' (the pseudonymous author) self-proclaimed role as a humorist, and of the discussion of indirect communication and double reflection which is prefaced to the argument, the doctrinal content of the work must be regarded as an ironical jest, which essentially takes the form of a carefully
Publication Year: 1967
Publication Date: 1967-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 33
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