The essay tries to furnish proof of the thesis that S°ren Kierkegaard declines the concept of a liberum arbitrium in connection with the doctrine of sin but interprets freedom as acceptance of oneÆs own existence within the limits of being created by God. To investigate this KierkegaardÆs explanations concerning human existence in the "Concept of Anxiety" and the "Sickness to Death" are being analysed. As a result of the analysis, Kierkegaard understands human being as constitutively relational being, precisely as being in relation to oneself and being set by God, and defines the human spirit as standing in relation with both human body and soul. In contrast to this, sin is understood as a failure of relation. Thus the relational comprehension of man makes the assumption of a liberum arbitrium impossible if one holds to the fact that no-one can set himself but finds himself being set by God and - as a relational being - depending on God. Freedom before sin is therefore understood as an entangled freedom, not as a freedom to choose between good and evil. True freedom is furthermore interpreted as acceptance of oneself and the willingness to choose the own existence before God.

---

---

Personen: Rolf, Sibylle

Schlagwörter: Angst Freiheit Sünde

Interessenkreis: Philosophie