OT or not?
Truth is Subjective
Soren Kierkegaard
1.The difference between an objective and a subjective reflection:
1. A subjective reflection makes its way inwardly in inwardness. Inwardness culminates in passion. The subjective truth is a paradox. A paradox is rooted in its having a relationship to an existing subject.
2. An objective reflection is directed objectively to the truth. Reflection is not focussed upon the relationship, but upon the questions of whether it is the truth to which the knower is related.
3. Take the knowledge of God as an example:
" Objectively, reflection is directed to the problem of whether this object is the true God; subjectively, reflection is directed to the question whether the individual is related to a something in such manner that this relationship is in truth a God-relationship." (p. 95)
1. God is a subject thus only exists for subjectivity:
1. It is impossible to bring God to light objectively.
2. God exists only for subjectivity in inwardness.
3. That one has God is not by virtue of any objective deliberation, but by virture of the infinite passion of inwardness.
2. Objective knowledge and subjective knowledge:
1. Objective knowledge detaches from passion
2. Subjective knowledge counts every delay a deadly peril.
3. Which side has most truth: e.g. The one prays in truth to God though he worships an idol; the other prays in falsely to the true God, and hence worships in fact an idol.
4. Socrates’ problematic manner: If there is an immortality.
1. Three proofs:
2. Socrates himself contributed the passion of infinite.
3. Truth, passion and paradox in Socrates example are for individual.
3. What is said and How it is said:
1. The objective accent falls on WHAT is said.
2. The subjective accent on HOW it is said.
3. In religion, belief makes it objective true but indeed it is that subjective become truth.
" At its maximum this inward "how" is the passion of the infinite, and the passion of the infinite is the truth. But the passion of the infinite is precisely subjectivity and thus subjectivity becomes the truth." "and the subjective ‘how’ constitute the truth." (p.97)
4. A definition of truth and objective uncertainty:
1. A definition: " An objective uncertainty held fast in an appropriation-process of the most passionate inwardness is the truth, the highest truth attainable for an existing individual." (p.98)
2. "The sum of all this is an objective uncertainty."
3. Without risk there is no faith.
5. Conclusion:
" If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe. If I wish to preserve myself in faith I must constantly be intent upon holding fast the objective uncertainty."
AI
