The SPCK Introduction to Kierkegaard

by Peter Vardy

Publisher:

SPCK

, 2008

Overview

The writings of Søren Kierkegaard had little influence in his lifetime, yet today, he is internationally accepted as one of the world’s greatest philosophical thinkers. Widely considered the first existentialist philosopher, Kierkegaard focused on the personal choices of human reality. Here, Peter Vardy makes Kierkegaard’s often complex and difficult thinking accessible to a wide audience. He describes the theme and scope of Kierkegaard’s thought and gives the reader a feeling for the way he dissected problems, making this an ideal introduction to Kierkegaard.

In the Logos edition, this valuable volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Introduces the life and ideas of this original philosopher
• Challenges the reader to look at themselves truthfully through willful self-examination
• Discusses the lasting effect of this influential individual

Contents

• Kierkegaard’s Life
• Faith and Reason
• The Nature of Truth
• The Aesthetic Stage
• The Ethical Stage
• The Religious Stage
• Ethics and the Relationship to God
• The Truth of the God-Relationship
• Works of Love
• Inter-Religious Dialogue
• Kierkegaard and the Church

Top Highlights

“To sum up, therefore, Kierkegaard argues that if the Christian story is true, then any merely human teacher (like Socrates) is in an essentially different position from Jesus. Jesus, as God, reveals truths that would not otherwise be accessible. The claim that Jesus is both God and man is, however, not reasonable—it will elicit either offence or faith. The truth of the Christian claim cannot be arrived at by reason since faith in the Absolute Paradox is actually beyond reason. This is one of the most important of Kierkegaard’s ideas—that faith is higher than reason. Many today will reject this, yet it is at the heart of Kierkegaard’s understanding of reality.” (Page 21)

“Hegel’s philosophical nickname was ‘Both/And’ since he held that two seemingly contradictory statements can both be true. He was the forerunner of philosophies which claim that truth depends on the situation, that it is not absolute but relative. Kierkegaard saw himself, by contrast with Hegel, as ‘Either/Or’—either statements are true or they are false, depending on whether or not they correspond to the state of affairs which they describe, not on how those affairs are perceived. This is a traditional realist position and one of great contemporary relevance.” (Page xii)

“The objective truth of the incarnation (if, indeed, it is true) has to be believed in the face of the apparent absurdity of the paradox and ‘lived out’ in a life of faith. It has to be appropriated by the individual so that it affects the whole of his or her life. Until this happens, the truth does not become true for the individual, it remains ‘at a distance’.” (Page 29)

Praise for the Print Edition

Kierkegaard’s writings have fascinated and challenged many of the twentieth century’s greatest thinkers. In this most readable book, Peter Vardy skillfully unfolds why this is so . . . while at the same time relating Kierkegaard’s profound religious insights to many pressing issues with which people of the twenty-first century need to engage.

—Paul Rout, Yarra Theological Union, Australia

This is a refreshingly accessible summary of Kierkegaard’s work and his enduring importance and relevance today. Peter Vardy distills the essence of this complex, challenging man and stimulates a strong appetite for further study.

—James Kidner, director, Coexist Foundation

Product Details

• Title: The SPCK Introduction to Kierkegaard
• Author: Peter Vardy
• Publisher: SPCK
• Publication Date: 2008
• Pages: 128

About Peter Vardy

Peter Vardy is vice principal of Heythrop College at the University of London. He lectures internationally and is committed to providing a spiritual perspective in an increasingly secular and postmodern world. His best-selling books include The Puzzle of God, The Puzzle of Sex, The Puzzle of Ethics, and Being Human.