Johannes Climacus

Johannes Climacus is a character created by philosopher Søren Kierkegaard to explore Christian faith and the nature of belief. Unlike historical figures, Climacus is a philosophical persona who examines how humans come to genuinely accept religious truths, emphasizing that faith involves a personal, often paradoxical commitment beyond reason and evidence. He illustrates that true faith requires a "leap" into the unknown, embracing uncertainty rather than certainty, and highlights the importance of subjective experience in understanding spiritual truths. Climacus’s writings influence existential thought by emphasizing authentic individual engagement with faith.