Exploring Exemplars: Socrates, Jesus, and Kierkegaard's Philosophical Tensions

In this episode of After Socrates, Dr. John Vervaeke and guest Christopher Mastropietro explore the overlap and interweaving of the works of Socrates and Kierkegaard, and their relation to the revolutionary characteristics of Jesus. There is a certain reverence that we hold naturally for counter-culture figures, even though we often don't celebrate them until long after their expiration. The speakers also discuss the challenge of grasping Kierkegaard's thoughts due to his pseudonymous writings and poetic style, which often leaves the reader lost and searching for meaning, the significance of intersubjectivity in philosophical conversations and the influence of Hegel on Kierkegaard's thinking. The discussion highlights the importance of going beyond objective philosophical reflections and the role of philosophical fellowship in encouraging self-reflection and personal growth and the tension of discussing private matters in a public setting and how it relates to the ethical dimensions of both Socrates and Kierkegaard's teachings.