Self-identity

Explain in your own words what you think Kierkegaard means in the following passage by arguing that truth is living for an idea. Analyse and critically evaluate his contrast between this and mere knowledge.

In his journal Kierkegaard argues that to lead a ‘complete human life’ it must be based upon:

‘...something which grows together with the deepest roots of my life, through which I am so to speak, grafted upon the divine, hold fast to it, even though the whole world fell apart.

For otherwise how near man is to madness, in spite of all his knowledge. What is truth, but to live for an idea? Ultimately everything must rest upon a postulate; but the moment it is no longer outside him, and he lives in it, then and only then does it cease to be a postulate for him...then all that knowledge will not be a chance assemblage, or a succession of details, without system and without a focusing point.’

I have tasted the fruit of the tree of knowledge, and often delighted in its taste. But the pleasure did not outlast the moment of understanding and left no profound mark upon me...One must know oneself before knowing anything else. It is only after a man has thus understood himself inwardly, and has thus seen his way, that life acquires peace and significance; only then is he rid of that tiresome, ill-omened fellow-traveller, the irony of life, which shows itself in the sphere of understanding, bidding true understanding begin with ignorance (Socrates) like God creating the world out of nothing.’

Journal , 1835.

Taken from:

Dru, Alexander. (ed.). The Journals of Kierkegaard 1834-1854 (London: Fontana, 1958), pp. 45-6.