Howard V. Howard Vincent Hong Books

Anti-Climacus begins by referencing the Gospel of John 11.4, questioning whether the statement "This sickness is not unto death" remains valid even without Jesus raising Lazarus. While death is seen as an end in human terms, Christianity views it as a transition in eternal life, making it less fearful. The true "Sickness unto Death" is spiritual despair, which Kierkegaard emphasizes as the real threat. An individual is "in despair" when they do not align with God’s plan for themselves, leading to a loss of self, defined as the "relation's relating itself to itself." Humanity exists in the tension between the finite and infinite, and to become a true self, one must be aware of their identity in relation to a higher purpose. Denying this self or the divine leads to despair. Kierkegaard identifies three types of despair: the first, "inauthentic despair," arises from ignorance of one's self and the existence of God, accepting only finite reality. The second involves recognizing the self but rejecting it, akin to Sartre's bad faith. The third type acknowledges the eternal yet refuses to submit to God’s will, resisting the true nature of the self. Overcoming despair means reconciling the finite with the infinite, achieving awareness of oneself and God. Kierkegaard defines the opposite of despair as faith, where the self rests in the power that created it.

Kierkegaard concluded his studies in theology and philosophy with a dissertation on irony, which became the foundation of his thought and writing. He focused on Socratic irony, analyzed through Xenophon, Plato, and Aristophanes. He views Socrates as an independent figure, distinct from Plato's dialogues, and defends Aristophanes' non-philosophical approach, which better captures Socrates' sense of irony. Aristophanes' negative portrayal of Socrates paradoxically reveals what Socrates aimed to achieve through irony—questioning the presumed ownership of truth and knowledge. Ironical questioning leads to introspection and the search for personal existential answers. Kierkegaard learns the mastery of irony from Socrates and seeks to disrupt the contemporary leveling and faith in science and progress that suppress individuality. He believes people suffer from an excess of knowledge that obscures their personal existence. This work serves as the starting point for Kierkegaard's oeuvre and contains the seeds of existentialism. Irony liberates but does not provide a positive guide; it represents "absolute negativity" and the first step toward self-discovery. Kierkegaard adhered to the maxim "know thyself" throughout his work, with irony as his constant companion. He further reflects on the irony of romantic authors and praises Shakespeare's controlled irony, which allows characters to remain "their own artists."