Comments on: Kierkegaard to the Rescue! http://philosophyonthemesa.com/2009/11/02/kierkegaard-to-the-rescue/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:18:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Robert http://philosophyonthemesa.com/2009/11/02/kierkegaard-to-the-rescue/#comment-2717 Robert Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:01:36 +0000 http://philosophyonthemesa.com/?p=1701#comment-2717 I disagree with the statement that Kierkegaard's philosophy can not be separated from his ideas of faith and religion. The great thinker thought of the self through a religiously motivated eyepiece, his ideas described here centered around a feeling and satisfaction that the religious communities attribute to "god's presence." Though the religious communities claim that this feeling is unique to Christian faith, the atheistic community would beg to differ. Growing up in the South Bible Belt of North Carolina, I was told that only those with faith in God were capable of feeling contentment and true satisfaction (as well as a whole host of qualities that are oddly similar to those of Abraham Maslow's idea of a self-actualize person). Clearly, this is a faulty understanding of humanity; many non-religious or non-Christian religious persons are capable of feeling all those same feelings, because they stem from completion of human motivations and congruent understanding of the surrounding world (psychosocial congruence), not solely from faith or constantly renewed faith. In this sense, the modern atheist search for internal completion for the same reasons as and with the same results as a Christian search for faith. They are, fundamentally, the same search. Under that light, Kierkegaard's philosophy can be separated from his faith by assigning the same actions and responses Christian's have in regard to faith, to the atheistic counterpart of searching for self-actualization. One must simply view the concepts of faith and self-actualization as synonyms, both defined as a search for completion and psychosocial congruence. With all that said, I agree with the proposal of Marino. The difference between chemical and cognitive depression and despair falls on a fine line, but the line exists all the same. Whether a person searches for faith through religions or for self-actualization, the search for non prescription based remedies to depression is essential to the strengthening of society, and more importantly, the person's who comprise it. I disagree with the statement that Kierkegaard’s philosophy can not be separated from his ideas of faith and religion. The great thinker thought of the self through a religiously motivated eyepiece, his ideas described here centered around a feeling and satisfaction that the religious communities attribute to “god’s presence.” Though the religious communities claim that this feeling is unique to Christian faith, the atheistic community would beg to differ. Growing up in the South Bible Belt of North Carolina, I was told that only those with faith in God were capable of feeling contentment and true satisfaction (as well as a whole host of qualities that are oddly similar to those of Abraham Maslow’s idea of a self-actualize person). Clearly, this is a faulty understanding of humanity; many non-religious or non-Christian religious persons are capable of feeling all those same feelings, because they stem from completion of human motivations and congruent understanding of the surrounding world (psychosocial congruence), not solely from faith or constantly renewed faith.

In this sense, the modern atheist search for internal completion for the same reasons as and with the same results as a Christian search for faith. They are, fundamentally, the same search. Under that light, Kierkegaard’s philosophy can be separated from his faith by assigning the same actions and responses Christian’s have in regard to faith, to the atheistic counterpart of searching for self-actualization. One must simply view the concepts of faith and self-actualization as synonyms, both defined as a search for completion and psychosocial congruence.

With all that said, I agree with the proposal of Marino. The difference between chemical and cognitive depression and despair falls on a fine line, but the line exists all the same. Whether a person searches for faith through religions or for self-actualization, the search for non prescription based remedies to depression is essential to the strengthening of society, and more importantly, the person’s who comprise it.

]]> By: Nina Rosenstand http://philosophyonthemesa.com/2009/11/02/kierkegaard-to-the-rescue/#comment-2621 Nina Rosenstand Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:53:03 +0000 http://philosophyonthemesa.com/?p=1701#comment-2621 Gordon, And thank you for visiting us and chiming in! A highly appreciated comment. You opened up a very valuable debate--and as everyone who blogs/writes knows, you have to make choices about how far you're going to follow your thought. The "God side" is indeed something you can't boil down to a few sentences. I will add your Library to my research links for my students. And I'm still intrigued by the boxing angle! Huan, good to see you're back! Gordon,
And thank you for visiting us and chiming in! A highly appreciated comment. You opened up a very valuable debate–and as everyone who blogs/writes knows, you have to make choices about how far you’re going to follow your thought. The “God side” is indeed something you can’t boil down to a few sentences. I will add your Library to my research links for my students. And I’m still intrigued by the boxing angle!

Huan, good to see you’re back!

]]> By: Huan http://philosophyonthemesa.com/2009/11/02/kierkegaard-to-the-rescue/#comment-2620 Huan Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:43:46 +0000 http://philosophyonthemesa.com/?p=1701#comment-2620 Haha guess I was wrong. :D Haha guess I was wrong. :D

]]> By: gordon marino http://philosophyonthemesa.com/2009/11/02/kierkegaard-to-the-rescue/#comment-2618 gordon marino Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:14:23 +0000 http://philosophyonthemesa.com/?p=1701#comment-2618 Many thanks for taking the time to reflect on my little offering. It is true that I left out the God side of the equation. I tried to fit it in a sentence or three but just could not get it right. That would not have put me on Soren good side that is for sure. If anyone is interested in SK at the College please keep the Library in mind. We have vibrant fellows program and an International Conference this year. Best, Gordon Marino Many thanks for taking the time to reflect on my little offering. It is true that I left out the God side of the equation. I tried to fit it in a sentence or three but just could not get it right. That would not have put me on Soren good side that is for sure.

If anyone is interested in SK at the College please keep the Library in mind. We have vibrant fellows program and an International Conference this year.

Best,
Gordon Marino

]]> By: Huan http://philosophyonthemesa.com/2009/11/02/kierkegaard-to-the-rescue/#comment-2616 Huan Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:33:43 +0000 http://philosophyonthemesa.com/?p=1701#comment-2616 Perhaps his intent was to posit the problem and leave the readers in blatant awareness of their existential issues and reach their own solution through some old-fashioned soul searching. It seems like the problem the Kierkegaard posits isn't necessarily impossible to solve without his "leap of faith", it isn't always necessarily insufficient to have just yourself look back at you is it? Perhaps his intent was to posit the problem and leave the readers in blatant awareness of their existential issues and reach their own solution through some old-fashioned soul searching. It seems like the problem the Kierkegaard posits isn’t necessarily impossible to solve without his “leap of faith”, it isn’t always necessarily insufficient to have just yourself look back at you is it?

]]>