Kierkegaard's Socratic Art Book

In his well-argued monograph, Benjamin Daise finds support for Kierkegaard's claim that he was a midwife for Christendom. The idea in midwifery is developed by means of an analysis of portions of Plato's Meno. Daise's analysis of Meno illuminates Kierkegaard's views in the authorship (primarily in Philosophical Fragments). "Consequently," Daise says, "I offer detailed textual analysis of the questions that are explicity addressed in Philosophical Fragments in order to show that what are ostensibly traditional metaphysical and epistemological issues are not those kinds of questions at all". Indeed, Daise contends, "the formulation of the questions [addressed by SK] is demanded by the maieutic requirementes of the enviroment in which Kierkegaard wrote."

Daise's analysis directly confronts interpretations of Kierkegaard/Climacus that see Climacus as presenting traditional responses to traditional theological or metaphysical questions. Where does Daise's analysis and critique lead? To the conclusion that the concern of Kierkegaard/Climacus was not just primarily existential but wholly existential. And to a new awareness of Kierkegaard's skillfull-and ethical-use of "inderict communication," much like a good midwife and very much in the way of the "Socratic/maieutic art."

Biography

Benjamin Daise is professor of Philosophy at Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he has taught since 1970.