Søren Kierkegaard was a 19th century Danish philosopher and theologian, generally recognized as the first existentialist philosopher. He bridged the gap that existed between Hegelian philosophy and what was to become Existentialism. Kierkegaard strongly criticized both the Hegelian philosophy of his time, and what he saw as the empty formalities of the Danish church. Much of his work deals with religious problems such as the nature of faith, the institution of the Christian Church, Christian ethics and theology, and the emotions and feelings of individuals when faced with existential choices. Because of this, Kierkegaard's work is sometimes characterized as Christian existentialism and existential psychology. Since he wrote most of his early work under various pseudonyms, and often these pseudo-authors would comment on and critique the works of his other pseudo-authors, it can be exceedingly difficult to distinguish between what Kierkegaard truly believed and what he was merely arguing for as part of a pseudo-author's position. Ludwig Wittgenstein remarked that Kierkegaard was "by far, the most profound thinker of the nineteenth century".
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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries: 1770: Captain James Cook ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef)
1892: The Salvation Army's Limelight Department, one of the world's earliest film studios, was officially established in Melbourne, Australia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limelight_Department)
1937: Marshall Mikhail Tukhachevsky and several senior officers of the Red Army were convicted in the Case of Trotskyist Anti-Soviet Military Organization, a secret trial during the Great Purge in the Soviet Union.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_of_Trotskyist_Anti-Soviet_Military_Organiz...)
1955: More than 80 people were killed after Pierre Levegh and Lance Macklin collided at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Mans_1955_disaster)
1963: The University of Alabama was desegregated as Governor George Wallace stepped aside after a stand in the schoolhouse door. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wallace)
_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:
In small proportions we just beauties see,And in short measures life may perfect be.~ Ben Jonson (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ben_Jonson)