Book contents
- Kierkegaard on Self, Ethics, and Religion
- Kierkegaard on Self, Ethics, and Religion
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Self, Despair, and Wholeheartedness
- Part II Morality, Prudence, and Religion
- Part III “Subjectivity, Inwardness, Is Truth”
- Chapter 8 “Hidden Inwardness” and Humor: Kantian Ethics and Religion
- Chapter 9 Subjective Truth: “Kierkegaard’s Most Notorious … Claim”
- Part IV Faith and Reason
- References
- Index
Chapter 8 - “Hidden Inwardness” and Humor: Kantian Ethics and Religion
from Part III - “Subjectivity, Inwardness, Is Truth”
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 January 2022
- Kierkegaard on Self, Ethics, and Religion
- Kierkegaard on Self, Ethics, and Religion
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Self, Despair, and Wholeheartedness
- Part II Morality, Prudence, and Religion
- Part III “Subjectivity, Inwardness, Is Truth”
- Chapter 8 “Hidden Inwardness” and Humor: Kantian Ethics and Religion
- Chapter 9 Subjective Truth: “Kierkegaard’s Most Notorious … Claim”
- Part IV Faith and Reason
- References
- Index
Summary
Chapter 8 reconstructs Kierkegaard’s ignored critique of consequentialism, a critique that is still relevant to ethics. It is argued that morality and religion require not only good intentions but also a good character. However, since moral character itself is not directly accessible, but only shown indirectly by words and deeds, Kierkegaard describes it in terms of hidden inwardness, which is only seen by God. Still, such inwardness neither entails a hidden, private domain nor “negative outwardness,” which “confines itself (in order not to be seen for what it is)” (Jack Mulder). Nor does it entail enclosing reserve (Indesluttethed), which is inwardness in deadlock. Instead, it represents an inwardness that strives to express itself in words and deeds. As a result, Kierkegaard’s moral psychology is more defensible and less problematic than often assumed.
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- Information
- Kierkegaard on Self, Ethics, and ReligionPurity or Despair, pp. 141 - 157Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022