Søren Kierkegaard – Subjectivity, Irony and the Crisis of Modernity Syllabus

Overview (80-120 words) describing structure and time commitment.

Module 1: Life and Work of Kierkegaard as a Socratic Task

Estimated time: 2 hours

• Biography and intellectual mission of Søren Kierkegaard
• Kierkegaard’s early life and cultural context in 19th-century Copenhagen
• His philosophical vocation as a Socratic figure
• Use of irony and indirect communication in his writings

Module 2: Kierkegaard, Martensen, and Hegelianism

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Kierkegaard’s critique of Hegelian systematic philosophy
• Contrast between abstract speculation and individual existence
• Engagement with Bishop Martensen and academic theology
• Emphasis on personal experience over objective system-building

Module 3: The Concept of Irony

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Analysis of Kierkegaard’s dissertation on irony
• Socratic irony as a model for philosophical inquiry
• Destructive vs. constructive uses of irony
• Irony as a response to cultural complacency

Module 4: The Crisis of Modernity

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Kierkegaard’s diagnosis of modern cultural decline
• Themes of nihilism, relativism, and spiritual emptiness
• Loss of authentic selfhood in mass society
• Relevance of Kierkegaard’s critique to contemporary life

Module 5: Subjectivity and Truth

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Exploration of Kierkegaard’s claim: “Truth is subjectivity”
• Distinction between objective facts and existential truth
• The role of passion, commitment, and inwardness in knowing
• Implications for ethics, religion, and personal identity

Module 6: Faith and the Absurd

Estimated time: 1 hour

• The “leap of faith” as a response to rational uncertainty
• Abraham and the paradox of the divine command
• Belief beyond reason and the embrace of the absurd
• Despair, anxiety, and the search for meaning

Module 7: Kierkegaard’s Legacy

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Influence on existentialist thinkers like Sartre and Camus
• Impact on 20th-century theology and philosophy
• Continuing relevance in discussions of authenticity and selfhood

Module 8: Final Reflections and Course Wrap-Up

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Synthesis of core philosophical themes
• Application of Kierkegaard’s ideas to modern personal challenges
• Reflection on meaning, choice, and individual responsibility

Prerequisites

• No prior knowledge of philosophy required
• Interest in religious or existential questions
• Willingness to engage with complex and personal ideas

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Understand Kierkegaard’s critique of modern society and philosophy
• Explain the philosophical significance of subjectivity and irony
• Analyze existential themes such as despair, faith, and the absurd
• Apply Kierkegaardian insights to questions of personal identity and meaning
• Recognize Kierkegaard’s influence on existentialism and modern thought