Kierkegard believes many things. One of these is the truth of subjectivity. One can define truth as subjectivity in many different ways. In his view, truth is subjectivity (and therefore reality) and this is what he defines as faith. Kierkegaard’s definition of truth is, ‘An objective uncertainty held fast in an appropriation-process of the most passionate inwardness is the truth, the highest truth attainable for the individual.’ Which one can agree with because all Kierkegard is trying to say and deny is the objectiveness of truth. However, he is implying that truth does not simply refer to the discovery of objective facts. Truth can also be expressed differently, for example, finding a statistic and figuring your final grade. While these truths are true, they aren’t objective. Some people believe that truth is only objective information. Kierkegard stated that objective thinkers are interested in objective truth and subjective thinkers in subjective truth.
Objective truth can include historical truth or philosophical truth. Subjective truth includes religious truth. There is a difference between objective and subjective truth. Objective truth relies on opinion, beliefs, and science isn’t able to confirm it. Objective, however, is universally accepted and confirmed by science. Scientists and historians, for example, study objective reality to discover the truth about nature or the truth about history. Scientists and historians can use this method to accurately predict the future according to these laws. Looking back at history can reveal the laws that control how events will unfold. By focusing on the past, an individual may be able to see the patterns and predict the future. Subjectivity (as we’ve said before) refers to that which an individual has, and no other. It may seem strange to you that this is what it means. This is different from having a car and a bank accounts. It is a person who is making progress. It is impossible to have someone else’s past, present, and future. These experiences can be experienced in different ways by people. Each person’s experience is unique. A person’s past, present and future is evidence that they are an existing person. This means that they can find meaning by living in the moment and not having to wait for it to happen again. Individuals are not born into existence. Once a person is born, and has reached a certain age of adulthood, they can make life choices. These choices may be made by him, his parents, or the society. The key point is that each individual must choose to exist. Each individual must choose to act in the moment, and then move on to the future. The individual’s choices and the way he chooses to make them will determine who and what they are to himself and others. Socrates stated that life’s purpose is to learn about oneself and to be true to who you are. Understanding oneself is about being aware of one’s true self, as well as what one can and cannot do. Kierkegaard employs the same idea as Socrates in his writings. It is subjectivity. It demonstrates and comes along with self-consciousness. It includes the intellectual and emotional resources an individual was born with. Subjectivity refers to the person as a human being. Problem is, how does one choose the best rules and models to help them make the right choices? Which are the best choices? Who defines right? To be truly human, to be true, one should express his feelings in a way which describes him and others. Kierkegaard says that the problem is that our subjective interests dictate who and what we choose to be. Individuals must make choices that have meaning to them as reasoning, feeling beings. Kierkegaard stepped up to the Tree to learn good and evil for his self, taking the place of Adam. He made his decision in God’s presence where no one could accuse, judge, or punish him. He had Abraham do this in Fear and Trembling. This is where Kierkegaard believed one learns about themselves. Here, the single person learns about guilt/innocence. The Concept of Anxiety (his book) reveals that Adam was aware of the possibility of freedom when he made this decision. Adam and Eve both knew that the prohibition existed, but they also knew that freedom existed. Kierkegaard meant that purely theological assertions can’t be invalidated or verified by science. His definition of a subjective truth as a choice is one that is completely arbitrary. The leap from objective knowledge to religious belief is called a leap in faith. It means that subjectively accepting statements cannot possibly be justified. According to him, the Christian faith results from the choices made. When objectively considered, solely theological assertions can be viewed as false or true.
But, Kierkergard is correct that subjectivity can be read in different ways. As you can believe what you like, it is easy to misinterpret. That’s not the intent of Kierkergard. He is trying show that convenience and a consumer-level lifestyle can lead to choosing beliefs. It leads people to claim that their beliefs are true or work for them. It works for me, and it is true for me. The difference is made by the notion of matter of personal dedication to truth. Kierkegaard said that most people are subjective towards themselves and objective toward all other people. This is not a picture that shows a convenient subjectivity that allows for the ease of avoiding change. It is a subjectivity that demands reorientation and the acceptance of personal demands. The Kierkegaard quote above reflects this commitment and huge persona. It is often used to take risks in daily life, or to be able trust others, whether it’s a family member or friend. A Christian, Kierkegaard’s assertions of theology are subjective truths that cannot be confirmed or disproved by science. Objective knowledge. He stated that God’s existence would be impossible to prove. However, he said that it would be futile to try and prove God’s existence. At the beginning of my proof, however, I will have assumed that it would be possible to prove it. He tried to explain the subjectivity and objectivity in his faith by saying that “The existing individual who chooses to pursue the objective way enters upon the entire approximation-process by which it is proposed to bring God to light objectively. This is not possible in all eternity because God is subject and is therefore only subject to inwardness.
The moral of Kierkegaard’s “truths are subjectivity” is that subjective truths are based on a person’s perceptions, feelings, and opinions. Everything we know depends on what input we have – our perception, our senses. Therefore, all we know is subjective. All truths can be subjective.
