Teleological_Suspension_Of_The_Ethical

Teleological Suspension Of The Ethical A clear understanding of what Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) meant by the `suspension of the ethical' can be achieved upon careful study of his wider philosophies on stages or aspects of an individual's life. In this short text I will examine these philosophies, exploring what Kierkegaard meant by each one. I'll then put into context these stages of life by looking at them in relation to that which Kierkegaard's text `Fear and Trembling' (in which he introduces the concept of a teleological suspension of the ethical) is based on: that being the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. Finally, I'll examine the problems of his theory and explore some of the presumptions and pre-requisites it necessitates. Firstly I find it necessary to understand the context in which Kierkegaard wrote and believed the philosophies we now explore. Kierkegaard's writings were not without a purpose or agenda. His own life was the source by which he details his wider more abstract theories on life in general. He is intrinsically linked to the Christian faith, and he writes with that in the forefront of his mind. Indeed, `Fear and Trembling' itself is based upon a passage of scripture which Kierkegaard examines and bases his points upon. The point Kierkegaard is making ultimately is that he believes that the `religious' stage of god, kierkegaard, good, ethical, life, abraham, suspension, purpose, being, one, religious, universal, kierkegaard's, telos, stages, religious, level, himself, aesthetic, very, value, stage, sense, question, own, order, meaning, isaac, individual, further, existence, between, apparently, scripture, requires, provides