Kierkegaard on faith

Summary

In this episode of the *Overthink* podcast, the hosts dive into Søren Kierkegaard's exploration of faith as presented in his work *Fear and Trembling*. Using the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, Kierkegaard illustrates the paradox of faith, which transcends knowledge and certainty. He contrasts the Knight of Infinite Resignation, who renounces everything but remains detached, with the Knight of Faith, who seamlessly moves between the finite and the infinite. The episode also discusses Kierkegaard's distinction between faith and ethics, focusing on how Abraham's faith transcends ethical norms, creating a private, incommunicable leap into the religious realm.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kierkegaard's *Fear and Trembling* explores the nature of faith using the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac.
• 😀 Kierkegaard argues that faith is superior to knowledge and certainty, emphasizing the importance of doubt as a stepping stone toward faith.
• 😀 Faith, for Kierkegaard, is a passionate leap into the infinite, transcending both knowledge and ignorance.
• 😀 The *Knight of Infinite Resignation* renounces everything and seeks peace in the infinite, but does not return to the finite with joy or purpose.
• 😀 The *Knight of Faith* also renounces everything but returns to the world with a sense of joy and fulfillment, embodying the absurd by making a leap from the infinite to the finite.
• 😀 Kierkegaard uses the image of a ballet dancer or gymnast to describe how the *Knight of Faith* seamlessly moves between the infinite and the finite.
• 😀 The *Knight of Infinite Resignation* can be seen as having a superiority complex due to their detached, ascetic lifestyle.
• 😀 Abraham is considered a model of the *Knight of Faith*, making the absurd leap of faith when he prepares to sacrifice Isaac at God's command.
• 😀 The *Knight of Faith* engages with both the finite (worldly) and the infinite (religious) realms, while the *Knight of Infinite Resignation* remains focused only on the infinite.
• 😀 Kierkegaard distinguishes between the ethical sphere and the religious sphere, using Antigone's moral dilemma to show how ethical choices are still part of human norms, while Abraham's faith transcends ethical justification.
• 😀 Faith is beyond the ethical domain, as seen in Abraham's act of suspending the ethical to follow God's command, a *teleological suspension of the ethical*.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Kierkegaard's book 'Fear and Trembling' as discussed in the video?

The main focus of Kierkegaard's book 'Fear and Trembling' is his exploration of faith, using the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac to illustrate the paradox and depth of faith. Kierkegaard develops a philosophy of faith that challenges traditional philosophical approaches, particularly those that seek certainty or knowledge.

How does Kierkegaard view faith in relation to knowledge and certainty?

Kierkegaard believes that faith is superior to certainty or knowledge. While traditional philosophy seeks certainty or knowledge, Kierkegaard argues that faith involves moving through doubt and resting in faith, which transcends the binary of knowledge and ignorance.

What role does the concept of the absurd play in Kierkegaard's view of faith?

The absurd plays a crucial role in Kierkegaard's view of faith. Faith is seen as a leap into the absurd, a movement between the infinite and the finite that allows an individual to renounce everything but ultimately regain everything. This paradoxical nature is at the heart of his philosophy of faith.

What is the distinction between the Knight of Infinite Resignation and the Knight of Faith?

The Knight of Infinite Resignation renounces everything, striving to rest in the infinite but remaining detached from the world. In contrast, the Knight of Faith passes through this renunciation and then moves beyond it, seamlessly engaging with both the finite world and the infinite. The Knight of Faith is able to live within the world while simultaneously having faith in the absurd.

How does Kierkegaard compare the Knight of Infinite Resignation to Socrates?

Kierkegaard compares the Knight of Infinite Resignation to Socrates, who doubted everything and embraced the idea that he was wise because he recognized how much he didn't know. For Kierkegaard, the Knight of Infinite Resignation shares a similar detached, ascetic attitude, but this is not the ideal form of faith. The Knight of Faith transcends this resignation.

What example does Kierkegaard use to explain the Knight of Infinite Resignation?

Kierkegaard uses the example of Socrates to explain the Knight of Infinite Resignation. Socrates, who embraced doubt and detachment, symbolizes this character who renounces everything in a noble but ultimately incomplete way, as opposed to the Knight of Faith.

What is meant by the 'teleological suspension of the ethical' in the context of Abraham's faith?

The 'teleological suspension of the ethical' refers to Abraham's suspension of the entire sphere of ethical norms in order to follow God's command to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Unlike ethical dilemmas, which can be justified or communicated within societal norms, Abraham's act is incommunicable and transcends ordinary ethical reasoning.

How does the concept of the tragic hero differ from the Knight of Faith?

The tragic hero, as defined by Kierkegaard, operates within the ethical sphere and faces moral dilemmas, such as Antigone's conflict between the law of the gods and the law of the state. In contrast, the Knight of Faith operates beyond ethical norms, acting on divine command without concern for social justifications. The act of faith is private and incomprehensible to others, unlike the tragic hero's ethical conflict.

What does Kierkegaard mean by saying Abraham's moral dilemma is 'incommunicable'?

Kierkegaard means that Abraham's moral dilemma, as commanded by God, is beyond human understanding and cannot be communicated or justified within the realm of ethical norms. If Abraham tried to explain his actions, others would perceive him as irrational or mad because his faith is not something that can be understood by conventional moral standards.

Why does Kierkegaard consider faith to be a 'passionate leap'?

Kierkegaard considers faith to be a 'passionate leap' because it involves a subjective and intense commitment to something beyond reason or evidence. This leap is not about finding certainty or knowledge but about embracing the absurd and making a personal, transformative decision to trust in the divine, even when it defies rational understanding.