Universal Ethiic By Kirkegaard

The “universal ethic” as described by Kirkegaard means that what we find ethical is also considered universal. Meaning that it is understood by all people what actions are ethical and what are not. Ethical actions, which are our duty and universal, are also seen as divine and therefore meant to please God in some way. It is reasonable to assume that we, as human beings, find gratification in loving one another and finding a place for ourselves in relationships to others. As Kirkegaard states, “so the whole existence of the human race is rounded off completely like a sphere, and the ethical is at once its limit and its content” (2). Through our actions with others and our environment we can indirectly pay our duties to God, which is our absolute
We can also see Abraham as a knight of faith because he is constantly being tested by God and only hopes to get to the universal. This is separate from a tragic hero, because at the end of the day, a tragic hero knows they have reached the universal. A knight of faith is one who understands the good of the universal and understands God’s message through their actions. Kirkegaard describes the knight of faith as someone who, “knows that to give up oneself for the universal inspires enthusiasm, and that it requires courage, but he also knows that security is to be found in this, precisely because it is for the universal” (6). Abraham understood that God’s test for him was a trial of his faith. The reason that Abraham’s sacrifice was so intimate is because of the deep love he had for his son. It would have been less meaningful otherwise and would not have been what God was looking for. He does not attempt to sacrifice his son out of hatred, such as Cain did will his brother Abel. God asked for Isaac because he knew the love that existed between the father and the son. Because Abraham was willing to give God his most precious thing on earth, God spared Isaac and kept a covenant with Abraham. Also, Abraham could accept no help in his task of sacrifice which is another example of being a knight of faith. This coincides with what Kirkegaard says, which is, “the one knight of faith can render no aid to the other. Either the individual becomes a knight of faith by assuming the burden of the paradox, or he never becomes one” (4). I believe Abraham stands for a knight of faith and is an example of devotion and loyalty to the one true