THE ORIGINS OF KIERKEGAARD’S POLITICAL THOUGHT: A REVIEW OF INTERPRETATIONS OF KIERKEGAARD’S PHILOSOPHY IN THE 20th AND 21st CENTURIES


DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2415-881x.2025.95.51-59

Stanislav Hrubiznyi

Abstract


The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the political aspects of Søren Kierkegaard’s philosophy in the context of contemporary interpretations within the history of philosophy. It explores the contribution of Gregor Malantschuk to the development of a political reading of Kierkegaard’s legacy, particularly his argument regarding the opposition between Kierkegaard’s Christian worldview and Marxist ideology as two incompatible perspectives on the human being and society. The reception of Kierkegaard’s philosophy in the works of contemporary thinkers featured in the edited volume «Kierkegaard’s Influence on Social-Political Thought» edited by Jon Stewart is examined in order to trace the transformation of his ideas within political theory. Contemporary studies by Graham Smith, Jamie Aroosi, and Barry Stocker are also synthesized, emphasizing the relevance of the concepts of individuality, subjective freedom, and ethical responsibility in current philosophical discourse. The analysis demonstrates that Kierkegaard’s philosophy possesses significant potential for the renewal of political thought, particularly in the critique of social and political systems that suppress personal autonomy, impose behavioral uniformity, and limit the possibilities of critical thinking.

Keywords


political philosophy; individualism; political skepticism; Karl Marx; Gregor Malantschuk; Jon Stewart

References


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