What Does Kierkegaard Mean By A Teleological Suspension Of The Ethical In Fear And Trembling
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"What Does Kierkegaard Mean By A Teleological Suspension Of The Ethical In Fear And Trembling."
In this essay I am going to explain what Kierkegaard meant by the teleological suspension of the ethical. Firstly I will define the ethical, look at how Kierkegaard and Hegel perceive the ethical, show where faith and mediation come in to it and finally show the paradox of the problema.
Kierkegaard defines the ethical as universal which means that it applies to everyone at every moment in time. However the ethical is the telos (end purpose) of everything including everything outside of itself, also the telos of the ethical is the telos there is no other telos apart from the ethical. The end purpose of an individual is to become a part of the universal by neutralizing their singularity.
Kierkegaard believes that the ethical is an expression of the universal but he believes that all actions are done publicly and for the common good for everyone. He believes that one acts for the betterment of others rather than for oneself.
Hegel believes that all ethical actions are done with the end goal of uniting with the universal in mind. The question being asked is whether there is some other higher end or goal in favor of which one might suspend their ethical duties...