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Philosophical Fragments By Soren Kierkegaard Essay

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In Søren Kierkegaard’s book, “Philosophical Fragments” he first prefaces his writing by explaining his own inadequacy to do so. It is his desire to deliberate upon the actuality of truth and it’s application to the human existence, but in order to do so, he deemed it necessary to admit that “What is offered here is only a pamphlet...without any claim to being a part of the scientific-scholarly endeavor…” (Preface 1 IV 176). Near the end of his preface Kierkegaard, in efforts to convey his intent to write without bias, claims he will not share his opinion (IV 178). Upon establishing his character as a writer, Kierkegaard divulges into what he calls his “Thought Project” as is found in part one of “Philosophical Fragments. In this section he starts by contemplating if indeed truth can be learned, and bases a lot of his understanding and philosophical thought on the influences of socratic idealizations. Based upon this thought process, it is established “that all learning and seeking are but recollecting. Thus the ignorant person merely needs to be reminded...” (A.6-7 IV 180). Kierkegaard then further expounds upon the processes of learning in order to establish a foundation for his “Thought Process” pertaining to the teacher and the follower. According to kierkegaard, “The teacher is to be the occasion that reminds the learner, he cannot assist him to recollect that he actually does know the truth, for the learner is indeed untruth” (B. b. 25 IV 184). So in saying this it

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