Kierkegaard – The paths of development

Authors

  • Bjarne Jacobsen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/pl.v43i2.137306

Keywords:

freedom, existence, autonomi, depair, distress

Abstract

Freedom is a cornerstone of Kierkegaard’s concept of the human being.
Through freedom, man is offered the opportunity to take over his own life
and become himself – be a self. However, he is also at risk of losing himself.
Freedom is not present at the beginning of life but is a fruit of physical, as
well as psychological maturation. In particular, the ability to move and, later
on, the ability to imagine promotes the child’s growing understanding of
itself as a being that can be itself. But the emergent sense of being – being oneself - does not take place except through anxiety. Anxiety that threatens to eliminate the evolving freedom. The consequence is that the development
takes place in an ambiguous way, which, on the one hand, points in the
direction of through freedom becoming a self and, on the other hand, being
overtaken by despair and losing oneself. In conclusion, the article suggests
that Kierkegaard’s understanding is relevant in relation to the widespread
dissatisfaction among young people.

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Published

2023-05-10

How to Cite

Jacobsen, B. (2023). Kierkegaard – The paths of development. Psyke & Logos, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.7146/pl.v43i2.137306