The Concept of Suffering in the Existentialist Thought of Soren Kierkegaard

By Boruah Papori

The present study embarks on the concept of suffering and its meaning patterns from

the point of view of the existentialist philosophy of S ren Kierkegaard. It is inspired by

both the existentialist philosophy of S ren Kierkegaard and the inexorability of suffering

world-wide and the inescapability of it in every culture. Danish philosopher S ren

Kierkegaard is known as the father of existentialism. The whole existentialist thinking

has its roots in the philosophy and the mystic-religious teachings of Kierkegaard.

According to Kierkegaard, suffering is the highest subjective truth. He has discussed the

concept of suffering in the context of religiosity.

To understand Kierkegaard's treatment of suffering, we must understand that

Kierkegaard always discusses it from the point of view of various stages of life or life

orientations. There are three basic stages, namely, aesthetic, ethical and religious. Among

these three stages, he considers the religious mode of existence as the highest and

existentially creative. This stage is the stage of highest subjectivity in which a subjective

individual can understand the highest subjective truth that is suffering. This subjectivity

is understood and explained as authenticity. The authenticity of the subject is existential

which is concerned with the inward feeling of the individual. For Kierkegaard, only an

authentic being can enjoy freedom. Human beings are absolutely free in making

decisions, choices and doing actions. Since, man is absolutely free to choose and

therefore she/he is responsible for what she/he chooses; and as a result of her/his choice,

she/he is also responsible for own suffering.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1805251066
• ISBN13: 9781805251064
• Release Date: March 2023
• Publisher: Independent Author
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"