What Happened to Søren Aabye Kierkegaard?

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 5, 1813, was a pivotal figure in 19th-century thought whose influence continues to shape contemporary philosophy and theology. His early life was marked by a complex relationship with his devout and melancholic father, Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard, and personal tragedies, including the deaths of several siblings. These experiences profoundly influenced his worldview and his later philosophical explorations of guilt, anxiety, and faith.

Kierkegaard's intellectual journey led him to the University of Copenhagen, where he studied theology but also delved into literature and philosophy. His tumultuous engagement to Regine Olsen, which he ultimately broke off, is often cited as a significant personal crisis that fueled his prolific writing career. Between 1843 and 1850, Kierkegaard produced a voluminous body of work, often under various pseudonyms, to present distinct viewpoints and engage readers in a complex dialogue about human existence.

Central to Kierkegaard's philosophy are concepts such as subjective truth, the 'leap of faith,' anxiety (angst), and despair. He challenged the prevailing systematic philosophies of his time, particularly Hegelianism, arguing that objective, abstract thinking failed to capture the concrete reality of individual human existence. Instead, he emphasized the importance of personal choice, authenticity, and a passionate commitment to one's beliefs, especially in religious matters, which he believed could not be fully justified by reason alone.

Kierkegaard was also a sharp social critic, particularly of the Danish Lutheran State Church, which he viewed as having become complacent and having lost touch with genuine New Testament Christianity. His later works directly attacked the institutionalized religion of his day, advocating for a more personal and strenuous understanding of Christian faith. He collapsed on the street on October 2, 1855, and died on November 11, 1855, at the age of 42.

Despite initial obscurity outside Scandinavia due to his writing in Danish, Kierkegaard's ideas gained significant recognition in the early 20th century, largely through translations into German, French, and English. He is widely hailed as the founder of existentialism and has had a lasting impact on diverse fields, including philosophy, theology, psychology (especially existential psychology), and literature.

As of 2026, Kierkegaard's legacy continues to be a vibrant area of academic inquiry. The International Journal of Kierkegaard Research published its 2025 issue with articles exploring various aspects of his work, including translations and interpretations of his key texts. The American Academy of Religion's Kierkegaard, Religion, and Culture Unit is actively inviting papers for its 2026 annual meeting, focusing on themes such as 'Kierkegaard and Feminist, Womanist, and Queer Christologies,' 'Kierkegaard and Biblical Hermeneutics,' 'Kierkegaard and Trauma,' and 'Kierkegaard and Democracy.' Additionally, calls for papers for special thematic issues of journals, such as Bollettino Filosofico (XLI/2026) and Humanidades: revista de la Universidad de Montevideo (Nº19, December 2026), are seeking submissions on 'Søren Kierkegaard and the Philosophies of Existence' and commemorating the 180th anniversary of his Concluding Unscientific Postscript. These ongoing scholarly activities demonstrate the enduring relevance and adaptability of Kierkegaard's thought to contemporary challenges and discussions.