Søren Kierkegaard

1813 – 1855 · died at about 42^[1][2]

Philosophy & Thought

Fun Facts About Søren Kierkegaard

• Søren Kierkegaard published many of his books under invented authors, such as Johannes de Silentio for Fear and Trembling and Hilarius Bookbinder for Stages on Life's Way.^[3]
• Kierkegaard broke off his engagement to Regine Olsen although the two were believed to be deeply in love. When she pleaded with him, he tried to repel her so that she would end it herself.^[3]
• After Kierkegaard picked a fight with the satirical paper The Corsair, it spent months mocking his appearance, voice and habits, and he felt harassed on the streets.^[3]
• Kierkegaard filled over 7,000 pages of journals, later published in 13 volumes.^[3]
• The "father of existentialism" wrote in Danish, and the first English translation of his work, in 1923, received little attention.^[3]
• Kierkegaard's funeral was disrupted by his nephew, who protested his burial by the official church he had denounced. The nephew was later fined.^[3]
• Søren Kierkegaard was alive at the same time as Andrew Jackson — their lives overlapped for 32 years (1813–1845).^[1][2][4][5]
• Søren Kierkegaard shares a birthday with Karl Marx: both were born on May 5.^[1][2][6][7]

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, Christian theologian, poet, social critic, and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical texts on organized religion, Christianity, morality, ethics, psychology, love, and the philosophy of religion, displaying a fondness for metaphor, irony, and parables. Much of his philosophical work deals with the issues around how one lives as a "single individual", highlighting the importance of authenticity, personal choice and commitment, and the duty to love. Kierkegaard prioritized concrete human reality over abstract thinking.^[1]

Contemporaries

Jacob Grimm

42 yr overlap

Michael Faraday

42 yr overlap

Charles Babbage

42 yr overlap

Victor Hugo

42 yr overlap

Hans Christian Andersen

42 yr overlap

Abraham Lincoln

42 yr overlap

Charles Darwin

42 yr overlap

Charles Dickens

42 yr overlap

Giuseppe Verdi

42 yr overlap

Richard Wagner

42 yr overlap

Ralph Waldo Emerson

42 yr overlap

George Sand

42 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About Søren Kierkegaard

When was Søren Kierkegaard born?

Søren Kierkegaard was born on May 5, 1813, and died on November 11, 1855.

How old was Søren Kierkegaard at death?

Søren Kierkegaard was born on May 5, 1813, and died on November 11, 1855, at age 42.

What was Søren Kierkegaard known for?

Søren Kierkegaard was known for: Danish philosopher, father of existentialism. Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, Christian theologian, poet, social critic, and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical texts on organized religion, Christianity, morality, ethics, psychology, love, and the philosophy of religion, displaying a fondness for metaphor, irony, and parables. Much of his philosophical work deals with the issues around how one lives as a "single individual", highlighting the importance of authenticity, personal choice and commitment, and the duty to love. Kierkegaard prioritized concrete human reality over abstract thinking.

Who was alive at the same time as Søren Kierkegaard?

Søren Kierkegaard's closest contemporary was Jacob Grimm. Their lives overlapped for 42 years.