The Relationship between Kierkegaard's Existentialis Thoughts and His Voluntarist Attitude

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Philosophy of Religion, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran

2 Department of Mysticism, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran

10.22059/jpht.2026.403657.1006148

Abstract

This study explores the reciprocal relationship between Søren Kierkegaard’s anthropological foundations and his will‑centered, faith‑based philosophy. As the founder of Christian existentialism, Kierkegaard portrays the human being as a dual entity—material and spiritual—endowed with genuine individuality, freedom of choice, and no predetermined nature, yet marked by existential contradiction and anxiety. These features constitute the essential groundwork for his voluntaristic conception of faith: a faith in which reason remains confined to the objective domain, while entry into the religious sphere occurs through a “leap” and an act of voluntary commitment. Conversely, several aspects of Kierkegaard’s anthropology are themselves shaped by his faith perspective, including his emphasis on inwardness and self‑reflection, the suspension of morality and reason before divine revelation, and the reinterpretation of fear as a condition for embracing truths that defy rational explanation. The findings indicate that Kierkegaard’s view of humanity and faith are mutually constitutive, forming an interactive and overlapping relationship that underlies the coherence of his existential philosophy. This interdependence transforms his thought into an integrated system in which anthropology and theology continually inform and sustain one another.

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