TO: REV. FR. EDILBERTO H. JARAPA PH.L FR: JUNEL MARIO M.

LUMAGUI DT: DECEMBER 27, 2010 RE: TERM PAPER OUTLINE

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN KIERKEGAARD AND HEIDEGGER: ON AUTHENTIC HUMAN EXISTENCE

INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE: KIERKEGAARDS VIEW OF MAN AND HIS EXISTENCE 1. Kierkegaardian Notion of Existence 1.1 Man as an existing individual 1.2 Mans subjectivity as truth 2. Areas of Existence as Personal Options 2.1 The Aesthetic Life 2.2 The Ethical Life 2.3 The Religious Life CHAPTER TWO: HEIDEGGERS NOTION OF MAN AND HIS EXISTENCE 1. Heideggerian View of Man 1.2 Dasein of Man 2. Heideggerian Notion of Existence 2.1 Dasein in Its World 2.2 Dasein with Other Beings CHAPTER THREE: KIERKEGAARDIAN AND HEIDEGGERIAN AUTHENTIC EXISTENCE 1. Kierkegaards Notion of Authentic Human Existence 1.2 The Concept of Dread 1.2 The Experience of Dread as Mans Authentic Existence 2. Heideggers Notion of Authentic Human Existence 2.1 Atheistic Notion of Authentic Existence 2.2 The Experience of Death as Mans Authentic Existence CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

The paradox among diversity of means to an authentic life posits another problem within each contrastable idea. The search for authentic human existence puts up many inquiries about the true meaning of life; Who am I?, How should I live?, and What is it to live for? Since the birth of philosophy, man began to be inquisitive of his own self and everything that which surround him. In the gradual development of philosophical way of thinking, the shift of interest dawns upon each stages of history; from cosmology (ancient) to theology, from theology (medieval) to anthropology (contemporary). Every part of history contributes important roles in mans search of truth about himself. Our great intellectuals spent much time in gathering facts about life. Various ideas were exposed for man to discern and experience the most effective means for a better life. It is in the contemporary ages that the study of man is given much attention. The anthropological means of mans pursuit of an authentic life is demystified most on one of its philosophical systems existentialism. Among the existentialist who assayed the authenticity in mans existence are Sren Aabye Kierkegaard (Christian existentialist) and Martin Heidegger (Atheist existentialist). In comparing these two existentialists, we can examine how a Christian and an Atheist approach the inquiry about life whereas the connection in each philosophy is immediate. According to Jean-Paul Sartre in his Existentialism is Humanism, What existentialists in common is the fact that they believe that existence comes before essence . . . one must begin from existence1

Kierkegaard, the existentialism forerunner, presents his notion of existence and the importance of understanding man and the areas of existence: aesthetic, ethical and religious as personal options. Moreover, he emphasized mans relation with the personal Thou, mans realization of his own self in his inward passion. He also justified the essential role of dread in mans relation to God. On the other hand, Heidegger who revitalized existentialism exposes his notion of authentic human existence in an atheistic approach. He presents his ideas of man with the term Dasein and his relation to the world and other beings in an ontological way. In his atheistic approach, he justified mans existence without the Absolute Thou through mans own realization of his own death. Thus, Heidegger posits death as mans authentic existence although he does not totally ignore the existence of God. Notwithstanding, each existentialists postulate their own explanation about existence. Yet, in the third chapter of this paper, the researcher tries to examine the discrepancy and linkage of the two notions from the perspective of the said existentialists for a better understanding of authentic human existence.

Cf. Robert C. Solomon, Phenomenology and Existentialism (United States of America: University Press of America, Inc., 1980), 335