Chapter 8, Concluding Unscientific Postscript to the Summary and Analysis

Kierkegaard is famous for his total repudiation of the ideas of German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel. Hegel thinks that the truth is a whole, no matter what sphere contains a piece of it. Art, science, history—they are all part of one thing. However, Kierkegaard denies that he is a part of any whole and believes he is neither included nor integrated. However, including him in a whole, Kierkegaard argues, he is negated. Kierkegaard believes that Hegel's world of reason annihilates the idea of possibility and action is only comprehensible when there is possibility. Individuality must be separated from society and reason, and possibility must be distinguished from reality as well.

Kierkegaard's greatest work is the Concluding Unscientific Postscript. It is published in 1846 and declares revolutionary secession from the...