Dostoevsky and Kafka are the earliest existentialists

[mrmetalgear]

Hello people,

Could any one of you explain to me why kafka and Dostoevsky are considered to be the first if not the earliest existentialists. Why not Soreen Kierkegaard? --- thanks

 

[fyodor_pavlovitch]

Did Kierkegaard write as many novels as Dostoyevsky and Kafka?  Who was Kierkegaard, anyway?

[Pavo]

Kierkegaard was a "Christian philospher".  Not known as a novelist, but I think he dabbled a little in allegorical fiction.

Here is a great link explaining more about Kierkegaard and his relationship to existentialism.  

http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/kierkegaard.shtml

This is part of a vast website on existentialism, and fyodordostoevsky.com links to it.  A sample of what is offered there:

Restrain your biases and suppress your notions as to what existentialism is. I seldom encounter individuals without “rubber stamp” answers for what is existential, what constitutes existentialism, and who were/are the existentialists. If you wish to learn something about existentialism — read on. If you seek dark, depressing thoughts about alienation and hopelessness… watch 24-hour news channels.

http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/exist.html

[axon]

Hello people,

Could any one of you explain to me why kafka and Dostoevsky are considered to be the first if not the earliest existentialists. Why not Soreen Kierkegaard? --- thanks

 

where did you get this information from? Whp, or what, exactly doesn't see Kieregaard as an existentialist?

If one considers Dostoevsly to be an early, or perhaps pre-existentialist, then the same applies to Kierk. Their ideas were widely similar only expressed in two different styles: D's through fiction and Kierk's through philosophical writings.

[mrmetalgear]

To those people who responded to my query... thank you. Actually my question was a question given to my by my professor in my doctoral comprehensive exam!!!! Though I myself dont agree with her question, I tried to defend the question to the best of my knowledge! Maybe you gentlemen can help me out. -- thanks anyway.


solidsnake

[mrmetalgear]

Guys,

was is probably that Kierkegaard could be more of a novelist in style compared to Kafka and Dostoevsky that his writing and its style was more considered literature than philosophy?

[underworld men]

Dostoevsky was not "just" an existentialist
Dostoevsky was a novelist
Dostoevsky was a journalist
Dostoevsky was a artist
Dostoevsky was a critic (bigtime yes)
Dostoevsky was a philosopher
Dostoevsky was a psychologist
Dostoevsky was a criminologist
Dostoevsky was a mean SOB
Dostoevsky was a trouble maker and fly in the oinment to the left and czar in pre revolution Russia.

Kierkegaard was the quasi moto of philosophers
Kierkegaard was the man with sexy chicken legs
Kierkegaard was the hunch back with most

yeah they had allot in common.

[Pavo]

Kierkegaard was the Quasimodo of philosophers
Kierkegaard was the man with sexy chicken legs
Kierkegaard was the hunch back with most

Hmm, they still ridicule the hunchback even today, name-calling and throwing stones with the hooligans.  

So long after his death, he must have had some impact.  More than you or I.

Pavo

[underworld men]

Pavo please...

Try to have a sense of humor..

 Soren would, as much as the next (I mean he was a romeo)

But in the vein of Dostoevsky AND SOREN.

LAUGH....

You know they would, come on "sexy chicken legs" is like over a hundred years Old.

PS ha you even caught the mis-spell.

[Pavo]

Fair enough.    I didn't realize that you were being humorous, it is sometimes hard on a forum to understand the emotional context of the written statement.  

[underworld men]

Fair enough.    I didn't realize that you were being humorous, it is sometimes hard on a forum to understand the emotional context of the written statement.  

Hey Soren was brilliant (although I am disappointed in his John Climacus stuff) he really let his ego show there. But now I wish I had the chicken leg cartoon you know even Soren laughed at that.

[Marie-Eugine]

I know this thread is a bit old but I had to reply as it seems that you dont know much about Søren A. Kierkegaard.

About whether or not Kierkegaard or Dostoevsky is the founder of existentialism, I think is a good question. They are much a like in their thinking.

Kierkegaard ( 1813-1855) has written about Christianity, Philsophy and Psychology. One of his book is considered THE book about anxiety and is read by many psychologist all over the world.

I have only just started to read Dostoevsky and I was so glad that I had read Kierkegaard first as it gave me an almost instant understanding of Dostoevsky on a deep level. I even began to wonder if Dostoevsky had read Kierkegaard.

Marie-Eugine

[underworld men]

I know this thread is a bit old but I had to reply as it seems that you dont know much about Søren A. Kierkegaard.

About whether or not Kierkegaard or Dostoevsky is the founder of existentialism, I think is a good question. They are much a like in their thinking.

Kierkegaard ( 1813-1855) has written about Christianity, Philsophy and Psychology. One of his book is considered THE book about anxiety and is read by many psychologist all over the world.

I have only just started to read Dostoevsky and I was so glad that I had read Kierkegaard first as it gave me an almost instant understanding of Dostoevsky on a deep level. I even began to wonder if Dostoevsky had read Kierkegaard.

Marie-Eugine

?

Sexy chicken legs sexy sexy sexy s-e-x-y.

My most beloved brother Mr Kierkengaard or as I like to call him Mr Cemetery hated the leftwing press.

The insult I gave above is nothing but reposting the evil doodoo they put him through.

My opinion of him is that I understand him because I have felt, experienced and lived these thoughts and experiences expressed in his work.

I think him most beautiful.

I also know he was a wonderful person and one helluva a prankster. He would have and did laugh at himself first and foremost.

So pooey on you too..

[underworld men]

PS as I completely agree with Soren on this-----

Socrates was the first existentialist.