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Patty Kittrell
PHIL1100 MWF 12AM
12/2/15
Individual Creative Paper
The Danish Existentialist: Sren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish Philosopher with a German influence in his teachings.
Kierkegaard grew up in the Lutheran Church where his father was a priest. He lived in
Copenhagen and lived his life writing about philosophy criticizing the Christian church, morals,
ethics, social issue, and some psychology as well. He studied many languages and was a hard
working philosopher, highly critical of bureaucracy in religion and society. He was engaged to
the most beautiful Danish wife, Regina Olsn. In condition to the proposal, she added that
Kierkegaard must provide for a wealthy lifestyle. He rejected her condition and she was married
in six months to the most-wealthy Danish guy. Because of this lonely fate, he ended up old and
alone later living in a small apartment, sick with tuberculosis. At age 42 in the middle of winter
he dropped dead while just walking the streets of Copenhagen.
Kierkegaard was also known as one of the founders of existentialist philosophy.
Existentialism refers to rationalization of thought initiating from the individual self. and with
this, Kierkegaard outlines the existential choice. In my opinion, Kierkegaard has a birds eye
view when looking at the relationship between the people and the church, and with this, he gives
an individualistic approach. With his education in the church and in philosophy, he is able to give
us an inside look at his criticisms of the bureaucratization of the church, and how this plays into
our existential choice. This existential choice we have resides in freedom of choice to be
different from society, and our God given independence. This is because without freedom of will,

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we have no way to perform our choices out in life. If there are too many rules and regulations, it
will result in limitations on societys freedom of life.
Although he had a strong personal connection with God, Kierkegaards views of the
church as an organization were highly critical. He believed that God highly appealed to the
Individualistic approach. People of this era really loved this way of life where religion and God
set the structure for social morality, and government of social life came all from within. With this
growth of the church there became a natural need for the growth of the Christian church as a
whole. As a result, the church became more bureaucratic, which was highly comparable to the
governing structure of government institutions and corporations. He thought that regulation
management and governing of the organization depersonalized the structures of socialization.
This way of organization leaves no room for personal assessment. In my opinion, this is
extremely important in forgiving and second chances, which are highly accepted values in
Christianity. Lets say for example, Im looking at five applications for the daycare position at the
local county recreation center, and starting pay is minimum wage. I have to throw away two,
right off the bat because they have misdemeanors for drug related charges. I havent even met
either of these applicants, and how do I know one of them isnt the best applicant without an
interview. It is possible, just for example, that the one whose record dates back three years ago
may have joined the church, and went back to college. Who knows? Maybe hes recently married
with a baby daughter. Maybe his life reflects nothing of the official paper documents associated
with his criminal record as stated by his social security number, because the hiring regulation as
established by the human resources sector of the county institution do not allow this sort of
criminal record.

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With this bureaucratization also came the social pressure to conform to the popular
personality. Rumors and gossip are used as tools of social compliance. People have lost their
personal identity and have subscribed to groups, labeling themselves within a crowds identity.
People have become reliant on social structure to regulate a certain standard of living for a
certain widow of social groups determined by status in education, financial stability, academic,
and professional prestige. With this government of organization, bias is allowed in our rules and
regulations that we place on every person under its rule. The complete bureaucratic system
approach doesnt work for anybody.
This bureaucratization of the church was in direct violation of individualism, and
freedom of will, which is what applied to the truth of God and religion in the first place. The
development of bureaucratization in society leaves society feeling lost and afraid, with no
personal faces to turn to. But who will take care of us if we need someone to turn to? And more
importantly, who will take care of our neighbors if we wont do it? I think it is the common
belief that we would rely on somebody else to take care of these social issues and problems.
Without the moral structure of religion, is makes society rely on the social functions of
government. If someone would ask us why we didnt help our poor neighbor pay his rent when
he was sick in the hospital, and now he is homeless? We would say we expect the social
functions of government and taxes to assess that problem. Poverty and homelessness is an
overwhelming problem all over the world today. Today in the U.S. budgets are constantly being
bounced around government, and the country is in unbelievable debt, currently18 trillion and
counting. I think many of our issues within institutionalization will continue. Especially ours
issues of poverty and hunger will continue to rise until we get to know the issues of our

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community. We have to take care of our neighbors like the virtues outlined in Christianity that so
highly influence Kierkegaards philosophy and his point of view of societal structures.
Although critical of the church, Kierkegaard was a highly religious man. He believed that
authentic self could be outlined in the most intimate relationship between an individual and God.
One makes sound decisions based on the internal process of a connection with God. Kierkegaard
bridges this beloved idea of free will with the morality of God, which is so approachable and
meaningful to society. This philosophy of internal morality and intrinsic motivation for the
process of life is highly reminiscent of the Universalist ideas of Immanuel Kant. Universalism
refers to a system that works for everybody. This way of internal morality that comes from God,
and, I think, speaks a people on a pedestrian level, that is accessible to everyone. Kierkegaard
leads to believe that if morality comes from within, there is no need for bureaucratization,
because we all already have a moral leader, or compass within.
Religion at this time was increasingly becoming more and more popular. With the influx
of Christianity came bureaucratic structures to hold rules and regulation in order to perform the
functions of the church. These very regulations and government is the cancer to our God given
right to existential choice, and freedom of will. Kierkegaard believes that we should have choice
in the matters of our lives relative to society, which is necessary for freedom of will. Outlined
specifically is the existential choice, which is the most important decision in life. It is the
fundamental direction you choose to lead your life, and has limitations within your capabilities.
He says that one must be passionate of their choices in life and take responsibility in their
actions. The unwillingness to make a decision or a life choice is in fact a choice by default. The
choices made must be committed to and fully served to the best of ones abilities. This means we
must be passionate about our choice in life, we cannot fail to try our best because it is our

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complete responsibility to fulfill our existential choice in life. He also states that because of this
hypercritical way of commitment society has developed to have many commitment issues.
Kierkegaard thinks of a persons life as transitional into he three spiritual steps or the
three stages of life. The first is Aesthetic, which is a more nave, childish approach to life. It
refers to the realistic view of one's own major accomplishments and outlook on life. Imagine a
sliding scale is placed on the individuals efforts and actions. This aesthetic step takes a critical
look at the individual and their lifestyle function. This is highly reminiscent of Immanuel Kant,
stoicism, and Socrates rules of virtue that state that one must fulfill their duties unconditionally,
because it all speaks to a higher societal problem. One thing these philosophers have in common
is that they are all weary of individual intrinsic motivation to support the efforts of society as a
whole.
One must compare themselves relative to their community and function in society to
proceed to the ethical stage, number two. This is a more responsible approach to life that applies
to the individual at a working societal level. That is, how the individual works within society
structure. Criticisms are applied at the communal level, as in joined efforts of the communitys
efforts. To take a hard look at the self and reflect upon the experiences of the community is to
arrive at stage three.
The third stage is the stage of Religion. Along with the ideas of existentialism,
Kierkegaard believed that the subjective experience of life had to be discovered individually
within. This is an existential choice that must be made from within using the previous stages.
With full commitment and effort to action (stage one), and reason from reality in community and
personal function within society (stage two), we must choose our niche in society. This means we
must choose our lifes path, what is known as the existential choice. What does it all mean to

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me? Existentialism, as outlined by Kierkegaard in this stage, refers to the point of view that
derives at the individual experience of life, and the inner thought and contemplation of Gods
will and values in my life along with my personal experiences.
From the communal view of ethical reasoning, arrived is the approach centered on a
relationship with God, stage three. This stage, or step, is interesting because it differs from the
traditional stoicism and Universalist ideas of Immanuel Kant. It applies to a relative approach in
society. This existential choice is looked at from a communal view and is analyzed within ones
own life. One must determine, relative to current social function, what they will do in society.
From an Individualistic view, the decision is made using high moral values of commitment to the
community, as well as high consideration of the internal connection associated with God.
Overall, Kierkegaards views on the revolutionary existentialism offered much insight for
religion and how it fits in with the common people. It specifically revealed relationships between
bureaucratization of the church and God. Existentialism refers to not just the thinking of the
individual, but the acting, feeling, living experience of the individual. As outlined in his steps of
spirituality, conjunction to the community and finding your niche in society is highly valued in
the decision of existential choice. Also, highly reflected in Kierkegaards philosophy are the
views of Immanuel Kant and stoicism outlined in his moral philosophy, he believed in
fulfillment of duty. I think all of these philosophers viewed social function at an individualistic
approach. To support function of society, there must be workforce. This means that the individual
must perform their duties of life with passion and commitment as virtues outlined by Christianity
and Stoicism.
Religion plays a huge role in societal structure as well as morality. Existential choice and
freedom of will to perform the duties of life thrives on commitment. Commitment is a necessary

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building block for the functions of society to get done. What is a higher commitment and a
stronger personal relationship than God. God himself can provide compass not only for morality,
but inner personal analysis and inner discussion of issues that help life decision-making. What is
more personal than the relationship with God? Having an inner moral guide bound to a
personified being within your own brain can create a discussion between the self and the internal
conversation with God. This second set of eyes can help extend the process of decision and allow
deeper, more constructive thought. In conclusion, these internal analysis skills are crucial for the
steps to spirituality, because the idea of the steps are completely self-critical, which is highly
reminiscent of relativism, which refers to having an outlook on society that is relative to ones
own life.
The existential choice refers to the fundamental choice of life that is best discussed with
God as an internal decision, with Gods morality in highest rule, we can make decisions for our
own roles in society at an individual level. Societal structure comes from within because of the
connection with God and internal morality. With this rules and regulations arent necessary to
suppress individuality. The people are free of rumors, gossips, and stigmas to choose their own
existential path, meaning my life is my choice.
Finally, Kierkegaard is very critical of the social structure placed upon the people,
especially under the bureaucratization of the church. The organization of societal structures
produces institutions with bureaucracy. It is commonly believed we need these structures of rules
and regulations in government and other institutions. Kierkegaard notices that this
bureaucratization of standardizing procedures reduces the opportunities for individuality. Not
only does bureaucratization bring social compliance, but also the culture of bureaucracy is fake
and highly biased. People in society subscribe to the ideas of larger groups. These institutions are

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not, in fact, existentially obtained ideas to their followers. That is, followers of groups are not
capable of rationalization coming from the experience of the self, because all they know is the
umbrella information under what has been allowed under the guidelines and procedures as
allowed by law.
All in all, bureaucratization is the cancer of individuality, and does not work functionally
on a level for anybody. Christianity is so popular because God applies to people on such personal
levels. Kierkegaard grew up Lutheran, so his philosophy derived from an individualistic
approach as well. One of the main priorities of existentialism is freedom. Kierkegaards main
criticism of the church is the bureaucratization and the limitations it puts on peoples freedoms.
For Kierkegaard, the best social structure comes from within, and is best represented as
the authentic self. This refers the matters of the individual existential choice, a driving source for
a meaningful life. This existential choice is arrived by the three steps of spirituality: authentic,
communal, and religious, which are best directed by self-criticism, communal influence, and
God, with a strong backbone of commitment and responsibility to freedom of choice.