Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Philosophy

Major Professor

Michael DeJonge, Ph.D.

Co-Major Professor

Lee Braver, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Roger Ariew, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Richard Rosengarten, Ph.D.

Keywords

indirect communication, philosophy, religion, theology, transformation

Abstract

Kierkegaard, the 19th-century Danish philosopher, offers a profound perspective on conversion. According to him, conversion isn't a mere external change, but a deeply personal and internal transformation. It's about moving from a state of despair to faith. Kierkegaard believed that true conversion involves a passionate leap of faith, where an individual confronts their own subjectivity and makes a conscious, often paradoxical, choice to align themselves with their authentic values and spiritual beliefs. In his view, conversion is a constant process, requiring introspection, struggle, and a commitment to live authentically in the face of life's uncertainties. In order to communicate this without violating subjectivity, Kierkegaard had to creatively think through his authorial strategy and the deployment of irony to achieve his task. Understanding his view of conversion then may in turn help us to make sense of the strange authorial strategy he took up in order to achieve his purposes.

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