Philosophy, Essay Example

Kierkegaard’s idea of faith entails making a profoundly passionate and private commitment to acknowledge divine power above everything else. It entails making a leap that is fearful and life-changing, past what is practical and rational to recognize what is overpoweringly absurd. This leap ought to be made, not just the once, but repeatedly. Abraham was referred to as the “Knight of Faith because he made out that he was supposed to sacrifice Isaac to God. He also believed that whatever God ordered would happen. However, despite everything, Abraham continued trusting that through God’s supremacy Isaac would go on living even if it were impractical in the comprehension of normal human knowledge that he would live. Abraham did not have an idea how, but his belief that God would unbelievably give Isaac back to him regardless of the impracticality that Isaac must continue to exist after the sacrifice.

Concerning the teleological suspension of the ethical Kierkegaard refers to the desertion of normal spiritual beliefs in support of the absolute cause or decisive cause of the will of God. Within this teleological suspension of the ethical, ordinary moral and decent dictates are deserted in support of the ultimate and unquestioning conviction in God. For instance, God ordered Abraham to give Isaac as an offering, an order that evidently is in desolate contrast to ethical standards with reference to safeguard, murder, and parental affection. However, Kierkegaard supposes that a higher authority exists compared to moral standards. He also believes that Abraham was responding to this superior authority within God. Therefore, Abraham carried out a teleological suspension of the ethical. This means that Abraham was right when he showed compliance to giving Isaac as an offering so that he would please God.