The paradox of faith (described in part 1 of the summary) is for Kierkegaard beyond mediation and beyond Dialectical resolution. The Paradox also leaves the individual in a solitary state since he
cannot appeal to the external ethical. "Faith
is this paradox, and the individual absolutely cannot make himself intelligible
to anybody (Fear and Trembling, p.120)". This is another level of
the paradox of Abraham who does something completely selfish for himself which
is at the same time completely selfless in relation to the absolute. The knight of faith has to
carry alone this paradox as a burden all the long way to Mount Moriah. "only the individual becomes a knight of
faith as the particular individual, and this is the greatness of this
knighthood" (Ibid).
Kierkegaard quotes Luke 14:26
("If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person
cannot be my disciple") and says that commentary which tries to avoid the
harshness of these words fails to understand their meaning. For Kierkegaard only he who literally
follows this passage can erect a building of faith. Kierkegaard explains that "The absolute duty may cause one
to do what ethics would forbid, but by no means can it cause the knight of
faith to cease to Love"
(Fear and Trembling, p.122). What seems on the outside as Abraham hating Isaac
is in fact Abraham loving him even more, otherwise there would be no sacrifice.
The sacrifice is the paradox between Abraham's love for Isaac and his love for
God. This cannot be understood by bystanders, who will only see Abraham as a
murderer.
Being the knight of faith has to break
beyond the ethical and cannot stay within it, since such a paradoxical command
like the one Abraham received cannot be mandated by law (like the church, which
is a mediating function). This once again means for Kierkegaard that the knight of faith
is solitary in his existence (and not by loving others less, on the contrary).
And solitude for Kierkegaard is a harsh business which requires rare courage
since he who knows the great " knows its
terror–and apart from the terror one does not know the great at all" (Fear
and Trembling, p.124).
Back to the main summary of Fear and Trembling
or by chapter:
Preface
Exordium
Eulogy on Abraham
Preliminary Expectoration
Problem I
Problem II
Problem III
or by chapter:
Preface
Exordium
Eulogy on Abraham
Preliminary Expectoration
Problem I
Problem II
See also:
Some books to check out: