Fear and Trembling by Søren KierkegaardMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
The “Binding of Isaac” in Genesis 22 is a story that has brought about great theological commentary in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam sources throughout the centuries then in the 19th Century it was treated to a philosophical commentary. Fear and Trembling is a philosophical work by Søren Kierkegaard who under the pseudonym Johannes de silentio examined the tension between ethical duty and faith though an analysis of Abraham’s psychological state on the journey to Moriah.
Kierkegaard core claim is that whether using ancient Greek philosophy, which was the closest to the time of Abraham, or Hegelian philosophy, then predominant within Europe, it is impossible to understand Abraham. His argument is that faith either transcends ethical reasoning or doesn’t exist, with him coming down in favor of the former. Kierkegaard uses various methods to come to an answer over the majority of the 108 pages of text which start of strong but as they progress grow confusing and at points makes one wonder if he’s going off on an unrelated tangent because he had an idea then tried to bring it back to the topic. I first learned about Kierkegaard in a Church History course in relation to his influence on Protestant theology and only learned later this work was influential in the development of existentialist philosophy, upon reading it I can see why both are true to an extent which makes me concerned about some Protestant theology now and worried about dipping my nose into existential philosophy in the future.
Fear and Trembling is Søren Kierkegaard explanation of his personal view of religion which was foundation in the creation of the philosophy of religion as well existentialism.
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