Philosophy: Kierkegaard’s Concept Of Existential Truth

Kierkegaard begins his journal entry explaining how he cannot establish himself as a student. It is for this reason that he is searching for his “I”. He's not concerned with what he knows or what he should seek to know, instead, he's concerned with what he, as an individual must do. In this case, what God really wants him to do. He argues that even if he were to discover the so called “objective truth” and was able to explain a number of things, it would have no deeper meaning for him as a person.

He would only be holding it up for others to see. I believe it is at this point that Kierkegaard's realizes that in order for him to find his “I” it must be “taken up alive” in him. However, in order to find his “I”, he cannot continue cast himself further into the knowledge of the world. Instead, he must find his “I” in something that come from within him.

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I believe that at this point in his journal entry is where her make the distinction between the objective knowledge and the truth that is “taken up aline in me”. This is because he makes the distinction between knowledge that comes from without and within.

The objective knowledge that comes from without, would not further his mind’s development as it is not his own. It would not be a truth that he arrived to on his own, but simply something he was told or learned.

However, the truth than must be “taken up alive in me” is one that he can only achieve through inward action. The arrival to this truth would be one that he came to on his own. This truth rooted in himself is what he strives for. What matters most is inward action, which will lead to the discovery of the truth that stems from within himself. This is what he describes as the “God-side” of a human.

I feel that by making this distinction between objective knowledge and the “truth that is taken up inside me”, Kierkegaard is highlighting the importance of self reflection, especially when it comes to finding ones purpose in life. Kierkegaard, through his distinction, highlights that mass information has no meaning if it is not from the roots of oneself, discovered through self reflection. In other words, it has no contribution to who we are. In his journal entry he says, “One must first learn to know oneself before knowing anything else”. I feel that when writing this, he is trying to emphasize that if we never find our own truth, we will never know anything else. We would simply leading a completely human life with no meaning to it. Instead, we only truly begin to learn when we reflect inwardly, and cling to that truth. The truth that we seek cannot be found in any companions, or mass information, but within ourselves. What is true for him, may be different then what is true for another man. However, whatever their truths may be, it must come from with in, and be something for which they are willing to live and die. Kierkegaard is calling everyone to follow their own path, and fine the truth that is true for them.

When reflecting in Kierkegaard’s concept if the existential truth, I fell as though I resonate with it in the sense that I have also found there have been times where I was unable to find myself in what I was learning. In high school there were a number of different requirements that needed to be fulfilled in order to graduate by grade twelve. As students we were told what classes to take, when the classes should be taken, and given little room to explore anything else. With that being said, we were also expected to show up to the classes we were told to take and be attentive and participle. Then, by grade eleven, we were expected to choose our career path without being given the option to explore anything outside of the classes we were told to take. At that point in my life I couldn't help but feel somewhat trapped. I had only taken so many classes, and all of the were either math, or science based. Neither of which I felt I wanted to pursue a career in. I hadn't found the truth that was true for me. Even though I excelled in those classes, and I learned a lot, it didn't seem like something I was prepared to spend the rest of my life pursuing. When twelfth grade began, and I had to seriously start considering what universities I would apply to, and what programs I was interested in. Soon, I felt the familiar feeling of being trapped yet again. Universities would be coming to the school to try to recruit, teachers were giving their own opinions, and of course my parents had their own expectations of me. However, up until that point, not once did I ever consider what was true for me. I had to take a step back and consider what I actually wanted fro myslef. Upon reading his journal entry, I can now see the importance of turning inward, and reflecting, and how it effected my life. My existential truth, is very different from others. Choosing to continue my education and major in psychology is the truth that is true for me. When making my decision I had to take into account what I saw myself doing for the rest of my life.

In Kierkegaard’s terms I was in the midst of discovering the idea for which I would be willing to live or die for. However, this is only one small part of my truth. As I continue to grow and learn my truth may begin to change. Through my experience, and reading his journal entry, I feel that I have a better understanding and appreciation for the idea of an existential truth.

To me, Kierkegaard’s concept of existential truth means to turn to oneself for answers, and not expect to find it in what other people tell me, or want for me. I cannot expect others to know what is best for me, and only I know my existential truth. My existential truth is something that is unique to me, and will ultimately lead to my happiness. It is something that gives me purpose, and in the religious sense, it is what God intends for me to do. Without it, I may never be who I’m truly intended to be, and as a result never really know myself. From this point forward, the only thing I can continue to do is deeply reflect within myself, and continue to seek the truth that is true for me, as I did before.