Kierkegaard Vs. Nietzsche

9 Pages 2366 Words

here is something beyond reason, which we just cannot control. We must take a leap of faith based on the lack of universal truths
Fear and Trembling was originally published in 1843, by Kierkegaards inheritance money from his father, and written under the name of Johannes de Silentio, to conceal his true identity amongst the Danes. Fear and Trembling becomes an exploration of the faith that transcends within the ethical, like Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac at God's command.
Kierkegaard uses Genesis as his text, where Abraham is commanded by God to kill his son Isaac. Obviously it is about the "teleological suspension of the ethical", that is, the suspension of the moral law for the sake of a higher law. Abraham is commanded by God to kill his son Isaac. The dilemma at hand is although God must be obeyed, murder is immoral. Abraham waited 100 years for Isaac to be born, (supporting the idea faith is a lifetime’s goal). The ethical is suspended for a higher goal (in Greek terminology telos). . Kierkegaard speaks of the "Knight of Faith" versus the "Knight of Infinite Resignation". Resignation is an act of the will, not abandonment. The Knight of Infinite Resignation is a man committed to adhere an ethical code. The Knight of Faith is a man who adheres to faith by virtue of the absurd. To believe by virtue of the absurd means that you believe that something is impossible based on your knowledge but still expect that it will happen. Abraham is not only a man of resignation but is the primary example of faith against the absurd. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, for whom he as waited many years. Abraham had the faith to obey God. He is the son who should obey the father because of faith. The act of faith was Abraham's willingness to suffer for God, unsure if his son would be returned. He was able to love God as the giver of commands even though those commands contradicted his love for his long awaite...