Søren Kierkegaard

Søren Kierkegaard was a 19th-century Danish philosopher often regarded as the father of existentialism. He explored deeply personal themes like faith, anxiety, and individual choice. In epistemology, he argued that true knowledge comes from subjective experience rather than objective truths. Aesthetically, he discussed the stages of life: the aesthetic, where one seeks pleasure, and the ethical, where one embraces responsibility. His philosophy of religion emphasized a personal relationship with God, often involving a "leap of faith." Ultimately, Kierkegaard believed that authentic existence is about making choices that reflect one's true self in a sometimes absurd and uncertain world.