1. Existentialism and Kierkegaard
PHILOSOPHY
Existentialism and Kierkegaard

2. Kierkegaard Biographical Info Born in Denmark
Deeply religious, but rejected his church
Wrote 18 books
Died at age 42

3. Kierkegaard Philosophic Contribution
Considered the founder of existentialism
Believed a person must be totally committed to living life
Existence is reserved for people who are thoughtful, make decisions by considering choices, and above all, make commitments
He felt that to get truth, a person must act on personal conviction, not one imposed by someone else. This search for truth causes apprehension, which he called “dread.”
Awareness of death and nothingness=existential dread

4. Kierkegaard The Aesthetic Stage: Level One
Behaves according to impulses or emotions
Has no religious belief
The chief motivation is to enjoy life
Resents anything that limits freedom of choice
What moves people to the next level?

5. Kierkegaard
Movement from the aesthetic stage to the ethical stage occurs because the use of reason identifies moral law as an expression of our universal reason.
One can either stay at level 1 or MAKE A CHOICE and COMMITT to go to the next level.

6. Kierkegaard What moves people to the next level?
The Ethical Stage: Level Two
Recognizes and accepts rules of conduct that reason formulates and the limitations on their life that moral responsibility imposes
Takes a firm stand on moral questions
Considers moral evil to be a product of either ignorance or weakness of will
What moves people to the next level?

7. Kierkegaard
Change occurs from level 2 to level 3 because ethical people ultimately come to realize that they are in fact, incapable of fulfilling the moral law, that they deliberately violate that law, and therefore become conscious of their sin and guilt.
Now they must either stay at level 2 and try to fulfill the moral law or respond to their new awareness and move to the next level.

8. Kierkegaard The Religious Stage: Level Three
Achieved by an act of commitment, a leap of faith
There is a big difference between faith and reason at this stage
It is an all or nothing stage
People at this stage accept belief through existential free will rather than by using the philosophic rules of reason and proof; they simply choose to believe.

9. Purpose in Life Test
Follow the directions on page 32 of your packet using the textbook pages 63-66
Possible scores range from (the mean is 102)
Scores of 113 and above suggest the presence of definite purpose and meaning
Scores of 91 or below suggest lack of clear meaning
Scores in the middle range of represents uncertain definition

10. PIL Test
Possible scores range from (mean 102). Scores of 113 or above suggest the presence of definite purpose and meaning while scores of 91 or below suggest lack of clear meaning. The middle range of represents uncertain definition.