Søren Kierkegaard: Subjective Truth and Individual Existence
Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, is often considered the father of existentialism. His statement “Truth is subjectivity” underscores a central idea in his philosophy: the importance of the individual’s subjective experience and personal perspective. According to Kierkegaard, objective truths are quantifiable and verifiable through empirical methods, such as scientific methods (Henley, 2019). However, he believed that the most essential truths are subjective; they concern an individual’s existence, identity, and relationship to the world.
Kierkegaard asserted that subjective truths are not less true because they are personal; rather, they are the most meaningful truths because they pertain to one’s own life and sense of self. Truths related to faith, morality, and personal choice are examples of subjective truths. He suggested that embracing these subjective truths requires a leap of faith and personal commitment that cannot be justified solely by objective reasoning. In this way, Kierkegaard emphasized the significance of personal experience and the individual’s passionate commitment to their own existential choice.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Human Nature, Society, and the Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an 18th-century French philosopher, is known for his influential works in political philosophy and education. Rousseau had a rather optimistic view of human nature, theorizing that humans are inherently good when in their natural state, but it is society that corrupts them. He believed that in the state of nature, humans are driven by two key principles: self-preservation and compassion (or pity). However, the development of society, with its institutions and inequalities, perverts these natural inclinations and fosters vices such as envy, greed, and vanity.
Rousseau’s famous statement “Man is born free, yet we see him everywhere in chains” reflects his critique of modern society. He argued that political and social structures, such as private property and the institutions of government, impose artificial inequalities and constraints on individuals, effectively placing them in metaphorical chains (Henley, 2019). The “chains” represent the social and political constraints that limit natural freedom and create a disparity between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak.
Rousseau postulated that the establishment of a legitimate political community necessitates a social compact in which individuals agree to collectively constitute a society that honors collective volition and safeguards the liberty of all its constituents. His musings on inherent liberty and the degenerative impact of societal structures have significantly influenced the evolution of contemporary political philosophy and the doctrine of popular sovereignty.
Reference
Henley, T. (2019). Hergenhahn’s an introduction to the history of psychology. Cengage Learning.