Kierkegaard and the tackling of Moral Apathy

Authors

  • Por Boonpornprasert

Keywords:

Moral Apathy, Immanuel Kant, Søren Kierkegaard, Reason, Passion

Abstract

 This paper aims at experimenting with a possible idea of how Kierkegaard would response to moral apathy prevailing over our so-called contemporary society. In doing so, since it is of experimental nature, I would take my liberty to deal with Kierkegaard’s ideas from his book “Works of Love,” and other related writings in a less Christian manner- also, not conclusive. I argue that his idea of “love your neighbors” could help tackle the phenomenon of moral apathy fundamentally originated from “calculative” or “strategic” thinking. Also I would point out that the problem of moral apathy does not necessary come from the lack of morals in our contemporary society. Lastly, I would point out why the Kantian concept of the good fails to sufficiently address the problem.

References

Books:
Kierkegaard, Soren.(1995). Works of Love, ed. and trans. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Pojman, Louis P.(1999). Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Rae, Murrae. (2010). Kierkegaard and Theology. London: T&T Clark International.

Journal:
Raymond D. Boisvert, “The Fall: Camus versus Sartre,” International Philosophical Quarterly 51, no. 4 (December 2011), 466-482.
Website:
Yvonne Brill. (2011). Civilized society distorted by moral apathy. Retrieved October, 18, 2015,from Opinion: Chinadaily.com Website : http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2011-10/18/content_13925194.htm.

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Published

2018-09-30

How to Cite

Boonpornprasert, P. (2018). Kierkegaard and the tackling of Moral Apathy. PANIDHANA JOURNAL, 11(2), 128–145. retrieved from https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/panidhana/article/view/148264