Philosophical Fragments by Søren Kierkegaard & Howard V. Hong & Edna H. Hong

Author:Søren Kierkegaard & Howard V. Hong & Edna H. Hong
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 1985-03-28T16:00:00+00:00

Deleted from final copy; see 43 fn.:

Note. It is true that I am not a poet and thus dare not claim [V B 40 11 92] to be capable of an opinion, but would it not have an almost madly comical effect to portray a man deluded into thinking that he could demonstrate that God exists—and then have an atheist accept it by virtue of the other’s demonstration. Both situations are equally fantastic, but just as no one has ever demonstrated it, so has there never been an atheist, even though there certainly have been many who have been unwilling to let what they know (that the god exists) get control [V B 40.11 93] of their minds. It is the same as with immortality. Suppose someone became immortal by means of another’s demonstrating it*—would that not be infinitely ridiculous. Therefore there has never been a man who has not believed it, but there certainly have been many who have been unwilling to let the truth conquer in their souls, have been loathe to allow themselves to be convinced, for what convinces me exists, but the important thing is that I become immersed in it. —With respect to the existence of God, immortality, etc., in short, with respect to all problems of immanence, recollection applies; it exists altogether in every man, only he does not know it, but it again follows that the conception may be very inadequate.

In margin: *(just as Nille became a stone and the deacon a rooster),27 suppose there was someone who went around as a miracle man, set up his booth, and demonstrated the immortality of the individual for a fee, just as indulgences were sold, and thus only the individual whose immortality he demonstrated became immortal.—JP III 3606 (Pap. V B 40:11) n.d., 1844

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