Nihilism is a philosophy that rejects values and the valuation society places on people, objects, and life, and instead states that everything is meaningless.
It’s a bleak outlook on life that has been explored by many philosophers throughout history. One such philosopher was a Danish thinker who lived in the 19th century.
He posited an early form of nihilism, which he referred to as leveling. He saw leveling as the process of suppressing individuality to a point where an individual’s uniqueness becomes non-existent and nothing meaningful in one’s existence can be affirmed.
But was this philosopher himself a nihilist?
In this article, we’ll explore the life and work of this philosopher to answer the question: Was Kierkegaard a nihilist?
Was Kierkegaard A Nihilist
Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, was not a nihilist. In fact, he was an advocate of a philosophy of life and generally argued against levelling and its nihilistic consequences.
Kierkegaard believed that the process of levelling, which suppresses individuality and uniqueness, leads to a meaningless existence. He argued that individuals who can overcome the levelling process are stronger for it and that it represents a step in the right direction towards “becoming a true self.”
Kierkegaard’s interest in an increasingly nihilistic age was in how we can recover the sense that our lives are meaningful. He believed that the only way out of nihilism was to adopt what he called “the paradoxical infinite” or “faith,” in other words, a belief in spiritual forces even if they don’t make rational sense.
Kierkegaard opposed tendencies in mass culture to reduce the individual to a cipher of conformity and deference to the dominant opinion. He believed that individuals should participate in this levelling process in their little circle but not as an abstract process.
Who Was Kierkegaard And What Did He Believe?
Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher born in Copenhagen in the early 19th century. He was a prolific writer who often used pseudonyms to explore alternative perspectives. Kierkegaard’s work covers all of the areas of existential thought, including anxiety, absurdity, authenticity, despair, the search for meaning, and individualism.
Unlike his atheistic successors, Kierkegaard placed his faith in the center of the solutions to the problems of human life. He believed that the only way out of nihilism was to adopt what he called “the paradoxical infinite” or “faith,” in other words, a belief in spiritual forces even if they don’t make rational sense.
Kierkegaard believed that the process of levelling, which suppresses individuality and uniqueness, leads to a meaningless existence. He argued that individuals who can overcome the levelling process are stronger for it and that it represents a step in the right direction towards “becoming a true self.” In an increasingly nihilistic age, Kierkegaard’s interest was in how we can recover the sense that our lives are meaningful.
Kierkegaard opposed tendencies in mass culture to reduce the individual to a cipher of conformity and deference to the dominant opinion. He believed that individuals should participate in this levelling process in their little circle but not as an abstract process. Overall, Kierkegaard was an advocate of a philosophy of life and generally argued against levelling and its nihilistic consequences.
Kierkegaard’s Concept Of Leveling And Its Relation To Nihilism
Kierkegaard’s concept of leveling is closely related to nihilism. He argued that leveling leads to the suppression of individuality and uniqueness, which ultimately leads to a meaningless existence. Nihilism, in Kierkegaard’s view, is the result of levelling and is the belief that life has no intrinsic value or meaning.
Kierkegaard believed that levelling was a process of abstraction that conquered individuality. He argued that one person cannot head this process because it would make him a leader, and he would avoid being leveled. Instead, each individual can participate in the levelling process in their little circle, but it should not be an abstract process.
Kierkegaard was not concerned with earthly and material goods but with the spiritual and existential aspects of life. He believed that the more a person weans their soul from understanding the imperfect to grasping the perfect, the more they will appropriate the explanation of life that comforts them. This explanation remains with them even when they lie forgotten in their grave and have themselves forgotten what moth and rust have consumed.
Kierkegaard believed that the only way out of nihilism was through faith, which he called “the paradoxical infinite.” This faith involves a belief in spiritual forces even if they do not make rational sense. By adopting this paradoxical infinite, individuals can overcome the levelling process and become stronger for it.
Kierkegaard’s Critique Of Nihilism
Kierkegaard’s critique of nihilism is rooted in his belief that nihilism leads to a meaningless existence. He believed that nihilism is a philosophy that rejects values and the valuation society places on people, objects, and life, and instead states that everything is meaningless. Kierkegaard argued that this philosophy is dangerous because it leads to a loss of individuality and uniqueness, which are essential for a meaningful existence.
Kierkegaard’s response to nihilism was to advocate for the adoption of “the paradoxical infinite” or “faith.” He believed that faith in spiritual forces, even if they don’t make rational sense, is the only way out of nihilism. Kierkegaard saw faith as a way to recover the sense that our lives are meaningful and to overcome the levelling process that suppresses individuality and uniqueness.
In addition to his emphasis on faith, Kierkegaard also criticized the tendency in mass culture to reduce the individual to a cipher of conformity and deference to the dominant opinion. He believed that individuals should participate in this levelling process in their little circle but not as an abstract process. Kierkegaard argued that individuals who can overcome the levelling process are stronger for it and that it represents a step in the right direction towards “becoming a true self.”
The Relevance Of Kierkegaard’s Ideas On Nihilism In Modern Times
Kierkegaard’s ideas on nihilism are still relevant in modern times as we continue to face the challenges of a society that values conformity and uniformity. The pressures of social media and the internet have only intensified the levelling process, making it even more difficult for individuals to maintain their unique identities.
Kierkegaard’s emphasis on the importance of individuality and the need to resist the forces of levelling is particularly relevant today. His idea of “the paradoxical infinite” or “faith” can be seen as a call to resist the nihilistic tendencies of modern society by embracing spirituality or other forms of meaning-making that go beyond rationality.
Furthermore, Kierkegaard’s critique of mass culture and its tendency to reduce individuals to ciphers of conformity is still relevant today. The rise of social media has only intensified this trend, with individuals feeling pressure to conform to certain ideals or standards in order to gain acceptance and validation. Kierkegaard would argue that this kind of conformity is ultimately destructive, leading to a sense of meaninglessness and nihilism.
Conclusion: Kierkegaard’s Legacy And Impact On Philosophy
Kierkegaard’s legacy and impact on philosophy is vast and far-reaching. He is often considered an outsider in the history of philosophy due to his unique approach to authorship and his use of various narrative points of view and subject matter.
Kierkegaard’s arsenal of rhetoric, including irony, satire, parody, humor, polemic, and dialectical method of “indirect communication,” was designed to deepen the reader’s subjective passionate engagement with ultimate existential issues. His closest literary and philosophical models were Plato, J.G. Hamann, G.E. Lessing, and his teacher of philosophy at the University of Copenhagen Poul Martin Møller, although Goethe, the German Romantics, Hegel, Kant, and the logic of Adolf Trendelenburg are also important influences.
Kierkegaard’s prime theological influence was Martin Luther, although his reactions to his Danish contemporaries N.F.S. Grundtvig and H.L. Martensen are also crucial. He is best known as a trenchant critic of Hegel and Hegelianism and for his invention or elaboration of a host of philosophical, psychological, literary and theological categories.
His impact on philosophy can be seen in his contributions to existentialism, which he is often referred to as the father of. His ideas on anxiety, despair, melancholy, repetition, inwardness, existential stages, inherited sin, teleological suspension of the ethical, Christian paradox, the absurd, reduplication, universal/exception, sacrifice, love as a duty, seduction, the demonic, and indirect communication have all had a significant impact on modern philosophy.
Overall, Kierkegaard’s legacy and impact on philosophy cannot be overstated. His unique approach to authorship and his contributions to existentialism have had a profound impact on modern philosophy and continue to influence philosophical thought today.
