Kierkegaard s Stages Of Life - 921 Words

Kierkegaard suggests three stages of life that an individual experiences on his or her way to existence. For Kierkegaard, existence is not simply a condition of being alive; it is an active pursuit toward the type of person one â€Å"ought† to be (Stumpf, 2015, p. 374). ‘Existence’ is a qualitative statement that indicates a conscious and active will to make reflective choices (373). According to him, there is a graduated system; ‘three stages of life,’ that one navigates with a series of choices in order to fully exist. Stage one is the Aesthetic stage. Here an individual is ruled by senses, impulses, and emotions. The individual does not live by â€Å"universal moral standards† or religion (374). The Aesthetic existence is a â€Å"poor quality† existence filled with the pursuit of pleasure and the freedom to be self-indulgent (375). In the Aesthetic stage an individual may be consumed by â€Å"sensuousness† but is also aware th at there may be more to existence (375). This is when the individual is faced with a decision between the sensuous and the spiritual. Kierkegaard believes the spiritual is in opposition to the sensuous. Like an addict, realizing one has more to live for than pleasure of the drugs, the Aesthetic existence yields to the next stage when the individual realizes they have a choice to make. Either, accept the â€Å"fatal attractions and inherent limitations† of your currently poor existence, or move on (375). You make this transition by committing to and acting on yourShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Kierkegaard s Fear And Trembling 1032 Words   |  5 Pagesindividual if there is no leap towards word of mouth. Kierkegaard exemplifies such mocking rhapsodies in his piece â€Å"Fear and Trembling†. Scattered within are multiple insults shot at individuals whom he wills deserving of it. Breezily crucifying ill-mannered beliefs, and rendering hopeless their application, Kierkegaa rd makes his first deprecatory stop at the gate of objective and speculative philosophy. Objective thinkers are swerved by Kierkegaard as he states â€Å" When a cellar-dweller plays this gameRead More Concept of Anxiety by Soren Kierkegaard Essay1750 Words   |  7 PagesThe Moment and Inwardness I. Introduction In The Concept of Anxiety, Sï ¿ ½ren Kierkegaard deals with human anxiety about the possibility posed by freedom as it relates to sinfulness and spiritual progress. This paper will show that Kierkegaard?s concept of the moment and his prescription for inwardness, both in the context of spirituality, are connected. 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To pursue a fundamental project according to Sartre is to act in a bad faith. quot;To act in a bed faith is to manifest our freedom inauthentic ally.quot;(3) Sartre believes that man experiences two primary phases of consciousness in his life, the spontaneous phase in which manRead MoreExistentialist Therapy : Moderating Life s Journey1752 Words   |  8 Pageshimself.† (1957, p. 1) Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the original existentialist philosophers inspired scholars like Viktor Frankl to develop a therapeutic form of counseling that facilitates cooperatively helping clients discover their true purpose in life to find meaning. â€Å"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the l ast of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.† (1993, p. 33) In this sentence, Frankl, who became one of theRead MoreExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 Pagesunderstand human nature undervalue the individual. 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