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Single Idea 16001
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 7. Existential Action
]
Full Idea
Philosophy is perfectly right in saying that life must be understood backwards. But then it forgets the other side - that it must be lived forwards.
Gist of Idea
Life may be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards
Source
Søren Kierkegaard (The Journals of Kierkegaard [1850], JP-III, 635)
Book Ref
Kierkegaard,Søren: 'Journals and Papers Vol. 1', ed/tr. Hong,Howard/Edna [Princeton ], p.450
A Reaction
Some of the best philosophers dwell too much on philosophy, history and the past, while forgetting to actually live and enjoy their lives. [SY]
The
47 ideas
from Søren Kierkegaard
16009
|
When we seek our own 'freedom' we are just trying to avoid responsibility
[Kierkegaard]
|
22098
|
Socrates neglects the gap between knowing what is good and doing good
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
22096
|
Anxiety is not a passing mood, but a response to human freedom
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
22097
|
The ultimate in life is learning to be anxious in the right way
[Kierkegaard]
|
21909
|
Ultimate knowledge is being anxious in the right way
[Kierkegaard]
|
20758
|
Anxiety is staring into the yawning abyss of freedom
[Kierkegaard]
|
22091
|
Kierkegaard prioritises the inward individual, rather than community
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
5650
|
Reason is just abstractions, so our essence needs a subjective 'leap of faith'
[Kierkegaard, by Scruton]
|
22095
|
There are aesthetic, ethical and religious subjectivity
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
22087
|
Philosophy fails to articulate the continual becoming of existence
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
5651
|
Traditional views of truth are tautologies, and truth is empty without a subject
[Kierkegaard, by Scruton]
|
22088
|
Faith is like a dancer's leap, going up to God, but also back to earth
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
22090
|
For me time stands still, and I with it
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
20747
|
What matters is not right choice, but energy, earnestness and pathos in the choosing
[Kierkegaard]
|
9305
|
The plebeians bore others; only the nobility bore themselves
[Kierkegaard]
|
16006
|
Either Abraham rises higher than universal ethics, or he is a mere murderer
[Kierkegaard]
|
7577
|
Abraham was willing to suspend ethics, for a higher idea
[Kierkegaard]
|
16012
|
Philosophy can't be unbiased if it ignores language, as that is no more independent than individuals are
[Kierkegaard]
|
21910
|
Our destiny is the highest pitch of world-weariness
[Kierkegaard]
|
16008
|
The best way to be a Christian is without 'Christianity'
[Kierkegaard]
|
16003
|
If people marry just because they are lonely, that is self-love, not love
[Kierkegaard]
|
16001
|
Life may be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards
[Kierkegaard]
|
16000
|
Fixed ideas should be tackled aggressively
[Kierkegaard]
|
20735
|
We need to see that Christianity cannot be understood
[Kierkegaard]
|
16007
|
I assume existence, rather than reasoning towards it
[Kierkegaard]
|
16013
|
Nothing necessary can come into existence, since it already 'is'
[Kierkegaard]
|
22094
|
Subjective truth can only be sustained by repetition
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
22093
|
Life is a repetition when what has been now becomes
[Kierkegaard]
|
16002
|
The self is a combination of pairs of attributes: freedom/necessity, infinite/finite, temporal/eternal
[Kierkegaard]
|
16005
|
I recognise knowledge, but it is the truth by which I can live and die that really matters
[Kierkegaard]
|
22092
|
Kierkegaard's truth draws on authenticity, fidelity and honesty
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
20313
|
The highest truth we can get is uncertainty held fast by an inward passion
[Kierkegaard]
|
20314
|
People want to lose themselves in movements and history, instead of being individuals
[Kierkegaard]
|
20312
|
God cannot be demonstrated objectively, because God is a subject, only existing inwardly
[Kierkegaard]
|
7578
|
I conceived it my task to create difficulties everywhere
[Kierkegaard]
|
7584
|
Without risk there is no faith
[Kierkegaard]
|
7579
|
While big metaphysics is complete without ethics, personal philosophy emphasises ethics
[Kierkegaard]
|
7581
|
Speculative philosophy loses the individual in a vast vision of humanity
[Kierkegaard]
|
7580
|
Pantheism destroys the distinction between good and evil
[Kierkegaard]
|
15999
|
Pure truth is for infinite beings only; I prefer endless striving for truth
[Kierkegaard]
|
20742
|
The real subject is ethical, not cognitive
[Kierkegaard]
|
22047
|
Wherever there is painless contradiction there is also comedy
[Kierkegaard]
|
7582
|
Becoming what one is is a huge difficulty, because we strongly aspire to be something else
[Kierkegaard]
|
7583
|
Faith is the highest passion in the sphere of human subjectivity
[Kierkegaard]
|
7586
|
God does not think or exist; God creates, and is eternal
[Kierkegaard]
|
22086
|
The most important aspect of a human being is not reason, but passion
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
15998
|
Perfect love is not in spite of imperfections; the imperfections must be loved as well
[Kierkegaard]
|