KIERKEGAARD, SREN

born May 5, 1813, Copenhagen, Den. died Nov. 11, 1855, Copenhagen in full Sren Aabye Kierkegaard Danish religious philosopher and critic of rationalism, regarded as the founder of existentialist philosophy. He is famous for his critique of systematic rational philosophy, particularly Hegelianism, on the grounds that actual life cannot be contained within an abstract conceptual system. With this stance, he intended to clear the ground for an adequate consideration of faith and, accordingly, of religionspecifically Christianity.