This thesis aims to consider the contemporary relevance of the philosophical and religious project of Søren Kierkegaard by offering a systematic reading of his work against the backdrop of 19th century German idealism. Along with an emphasis on a systematic interpretation of a thinker usually considered to be wholly anti-systematic in aim and orientation, I also aim to show that through developing an ontological interpretation of the work of Kierkegaard the grounds are also created to develop a social and political interpretation of his work. Ultimately, I use the ontological and political reading of Kierkegaard developed in this work to not only show the relevance of this project to contemporary materialist philosophy, but equally to show how this version of Kierkegaard is capable of offering some crucial correctives to contemporary materialism.

Ce mémoire se propose d'étudier la conception de la liberté chez Soren Kierkegaard. On y voit sa conception du paradoxe, de la qualité et du saut qualitatif, lesquels constituent la dialectique de la liberté correspondant à son concept d'existence. L'existence est une première base de la liberté. L'autre base est l'intériorité. En l'homme, le christianisme voit un combat intérieur pour devenir meilleur. Notre nature doit faire l'objet d'une perpétuelle réaffirmation, laquelle comporte effort et souffrance. Nous manifestons notre liberté à partir de cette intériorité en devenir et dans une angoisse. L'angoisse est l'état, concrètement envisagé, de l'homme libre devant prendre une décision. L'angoisse vient de tous ces possibles entre lesquels il faudra choisir. Nous examinons également quel est le statut de cet idéal auquel le chrétien doit se rapporter. Nous développons la notion du péché, et nous faisons ressortir quelles sont les caractéristiques du premier choix libre chrétien, c'est-à-dire la chute. Il ressort de notre analyse que la liberté se rapporte à l'autorité par son intériorité. L'autorité a pour elle l'être de l'idéal. De même, toute autorité se doit, de près ou de loin, de correspondre à l'idéal de l'assujetti, sinon il y a contrainte, donc autoritarisme. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Kierkegaard, Existence, Péché, Liberté, Autorité, Théologie, Philosophie, Angoisse, Intériorité, Dieu, Péché originel, Transcendance, Paradoxe, Individu, Désespoir.

What is the”self” and to become “one-self”? To resolve this questions possibility I´ve been using the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard metaphysic paradoxes. This essay about the “self” shows the reader the difference between describing a transcendent and immanent phenomenon and if it´s possible to become or to not become ourselves. The process is a key of the “self” which Kierkegaard explains the “self” in and for it-self. This transcendental phenomenon correlates between the dialectical relation it is constituted with and its own reflection, a “self” that becomes. If the “self” was not preceded as a process it would be an imminent “self” like it is described in positivistic methods. The transcendent “self” is the one which could only be captured in the moment and is a relation between two contradictories of three kinds. These three are finiteness and infinites, temporality and eternal, body and soul. The positivistic method is the psychology and theological one. From this method the “self” is account from a view which sees the “self” as a healthy one. This positivistic “self” can only proceed towards sickness. The opposite option, to describe the “self” as a sick one that is proceeding towards health, is a negativistic method. This investigation shows the difference describing a phenomenon as the “self” and to become ourselves, through philosophy and natural science like psychology or theology. To describe the “self” through philosophy is to describe the “self” from and in correlation to its sickness. In this essay to show the differences I´ve described the Kierkegaard’s “self” both in a positivistic and in a negativistic method. Still one can ask if the “self” and the process of becoming ourselves is even a possible. What choices do we have as human beings to choose, either to become or not to become ourselves? In every choice the sickness is present, and in every presence the quilt is a reality. The choice of become ourselves and the choice to not become ourselves includes the possibilities of freedom but also a necessarily. To become ourselves are both possible as necessary. The “self” is a great paradox idea of Kierkegaard, which I have explored. In this investigation I used Kierkegaard´s Fear and Trembling (1844) and Sickness Unto Death (1881). I also used articles by James Collins to show the “self” in a positivistic method and the philosopher Michael Theunissens article about the negativistic method.

Extrait de : Thèse de doctorat : Philosophie : Paris 1 : 1996 : Hegel et les métaphysiques de la fondation : étude sur le développement de la rationalité dans la philosophie de l'idéalisme allemand. / Titre provenant de l'écran d'accueil. Bibliogr. p. [301]-305. Notes bibliogr.

Inaug.-diss.--Erlangen.

The purpose of my research is to examine the philosophic influences on three literary works: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Ernest Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon, and Norman Mailer's An American Dream. Through an investigation of biographical, historical, cultural, and textual evidence, I will argue for the influence of several European philosophers---Friedrich Nietzsche, Søren Kierkegaard, and Martin Heidegger---on these authors and on the structures and messages of their works. I will discuss how the specific works I have selected not only reveal each author's apt understanding of the existential-philosophical crises facing the individual in the twentieth century, but also reveal these authors' attempt to disseminate philosophic instruction on the "art of living" to their post-war American readers. I will argue that Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Mailer address what they see as the universal philosophical crises of their generations in the form of literary art by appropriating and translating the existential concerns of existence to American interests and concerns. I will argue that Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Mailer's emphasis on the individual's personal responsibility to first become self-aware and then to strive to see the world more clearly and truly reflects their own sense of responsibility as authors and artists of their generations, a point of view that repositions these authors as prophets, seers, healers, so to speak, of their times. Finally, I will discuss how, in An American Dream, Mailer builds on the Americanized existential foundations laid by Fitzgerald and Hemingway through his explicit invocation of and subtle references to the art and ideas of his literary-philosophic predecessors---Fitzgerald and Hemingway.

The rise of Existentialism in the 20th century has engendered mixed reactions in the minds of most critical observers of the philosophical scene. Some have tended to dismiss it lightly as a passing phase, comparing it, for example, to the post-World War I cult of dadaism. They regarded it as a mere product of the times which was bound to pass away as times changed. [...]

This document is submitted with the permission and encouragement of the department of philosophy of McGill University in lieu of a conventional thesis. Briefly, it consists of a combined account and selective historical review of some uses of the computer in philosophy, and of a partial list of my computer-related contributions to Kierkegaard scholarship. The former deals generally with the creation, interrogation and analysis of machine-readable forms of philosophical texts. The latter deals specifically with my own work of creating and analyzing Kierkegaard-related machine-readable texts.

No description available.

Zugl.: Trier, Univ., Diss., 2005