Kierkegaard and individualism

Abstract

This article explores Søren Kierkegaard’s concept of individualism in contrast to modern views on the relationship between the individual and society. Using a comparative-analytical methodology, the authors examine classical, modern, and contemporary philosophical sources, along with recent scholarly interpretations, to situate Kierkegaard’s proposal within broader intellectual debates on freedom, responsibility, and human existence. The objective is to demonstrate that, for Kierkegaard, individualism is not equivalent to selfishness but refers to the authentic realization of the human being through responsibility toward oneself, the Other, and God. In contrast with classical liberalism and Hegelian collectivism, Kierkegaard conceives the individual as a unique, non-interchangeable subject whose freedom is exercised through ethical and religious choice —embodied in the dilemma “either/or”— and through the existential imitation of Christ against the pressures of social conformity. The scope of the analysis reveals that Kierkegaard initiates an existential revolution: he presents paradox as the structure of truth, emphasizes the tension between individual and society, and argues that authenticity is only possible through inwardness, passion, and decisive commitment. The article concludes that, against rationalist and ideological systems, Kierkegaard restores human singularity and ultimate responsibility as the foundation of genuine freedom.