Embracing Individuality: Heidegger vs. Kierkegaard

Individuality, also referred to as 'Individualism', emphasizes the importance of valuing independence and self-reliance by prioritizing an individual's goals and desires. It asserts that an individual's interests should come before those of society or the state, resisting interference from external sources. Authenticity involves remaining true to one's personality and character despite external pressures.

Existentialism suggests that individuals can find their true selves by facing the external forces of the physical world and harmonizing them with their inner thoughts. This essay aims to examine and distinguish the viewpoints of two influential existentialist figures: German philosopher Martin Heidegger and Danish theologian and philosopher Søren Aabye Kierkegaard.

Kierkegaard stresses the significance of individuality and the inner self as the foundation of consciousness (Kierkegaard, 31), whereas Heidegger highlights authenticity and the rejection of inauthenticity. This essay will examine these philosophical perspectives, analyzing their existentialist concepts through comparison and contrast.

My Argument

Both Heidegger and Kierkegaard extensively explore the concept of individuality and authenticity. Despite their differences, they also share similar arguments.

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Kierkegaard believes that authenticity relies on finding authentic faith and staying true to oneself. He suggests that the news media, bourgeois church, and Christianity pose significant challenges to living authentically. Kierkegaard views them as obstacles that prevent individuals from experiencing true life, authenticity, and unity with God. To overcome this, he proposes taking a leap of faith into the religious. While individuals may be hesitant to develop their own beliefs, they have a responsibility to do so in order to discover authentic faith driven by inner desire.

Martin Heidegger, in his work Being and Time, focuses on the unique understanding of existence and consciousness that is specific to each individual. Heidegger's philosophy revolves around the essence of being human, which he refers to as Dasein – a term translated to "being there" in English. Unlike philosophers before him who emphasized consciousness as the main aspect of human existence, Heidegger highlights our time-bound existence as the key defining feature. He suggests that human consciousness is always influenced by past, present, and future, with individuals being acutely aware of their mortality and constantly looking towards their next life stage.

Heidegger emphasizes the importance of inter-human relations in authentic human existence, while Kierkegaard focuses on the significance of the inner self. Kierkegaard sees politics and societal pressures as threats to individual authenticity, while Heidegger discusses threats in terms of authenticity, 'falling,' anxiety, and the influence of the masses. Heidegger suggests a balance in political affairs that all should strive for (Heidegger, 135).

Despite investigating the nature of his Dasein philosophy without passing ethical judgments, Heidegger appears to share Kierkegaard's belief in the significance of embracing individuality (as authenticity of the human being). However, Heidegger views 'publicness' as mass society, which he sees as detrimental to Dasein's authenticity and thus considers it evil. Heidegger values the 'authentic' as superior and more desirable than the 'inauthentic' in human existence. He uses the terms "they" and "others" in a somewhat negative manner to highlight the societal pressures on an individual, emphasizing the importance of authenticity over conformity (Heidegger, 118).

Heidegger introduces the concept of 'distantiality,' referring to Dasein's sense of distance from others in the existential world. This, along with averageness and 'levelling down,' are the existential qualities of the "they" and constitute 'publicness.' 'Levelling down' involves reducing everything to average or status quo, akin to the "lowest common denominator" appeal of mainstream media. Heidegger emphasizes how 'publicness' influences interpretations of the world and Dasein, leading to a mass dumbing down. He warns of mass society's threat to individuality, stating that "everyone is the other, and no one is himself."

Kierkegaard points out a key difference in the translation of Heidegger's concept of the "they": While both Kierkegaard and Heidegger translate 'das Man' as "the they", the term 'they' implies more of an external identity than 'das Man' (Kierkegaard, 1844).

Heidegger's concept of 'das Man' highlights the idea of identifying oneself with others. For Heidegger, thinking of oneself as part of the collective is crucial, as indicated by the phrase "‘One always says…’". This equation of the self with others is key in understanding how others can assume control for Dasein.

The distance that defines Being-with in the context of everyday "Being-with-one-another" means that Dasein is subject to the control of others. Dasein does not exist in and of itself; its essence has been appropriated by others. The everyday potentialities of Dasein's Being are at the disposal of others.

Heidegger argues that absorption with everyday work-world prevents Dasein from truly existing, leading to a loss of authentic Being-in-the-world. This is because individuals conceive of themselves through the lens of others, resulting in a vague and indefinite impression of self. Our inability to engage authentically with others causes them to become a faceless mass, further distorting our perception of self.

The true dictatorship of the "they" is revealed in our inconspicuousness. We derive pleasure and enjoyment just as they do. Heidegger suggests that we also recoil from the 'great mass' like they do. What we find 'shocking' aligns with what they find shocking. The undefined "they" dictate the nature of our everyday existence (Crosswhite, 1992).

Ultimately, I align myself with Heidegger's beliefs on individuality and authenticity as they prioritize external pressures and influences impacting existentialism and inner consciousness. The presence of others in an individual's life is crucial for their existence within the sphere of life.