The Present Age and the Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle
by Søren Kierkegaard (translated by Alexander Dru)
Harper & Row (1 January 1962)
What’s it about?: Two essays by the existentialist philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard. “The Present Age” is a scathing piece on the rise of the mass media in the nineteenth century, and the need for action in such a world. “The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle” concerns itself with those who might be considered naturally gifted but temporal, and those who speak with authority. Kierkegaard’s writings helped lay the foundations of existentialism, a sub-branch of philosophy described by Stanford as being “well known for its critique of mass society and our tendency to conform to the levelled-down norms and expectations of the public.” In other words, Kierkegaard was nu-metal (kidding… sort of).
My opinion: I can’t say I could ever have a favourite philosopher per se, but Kierkegaard comes close. Though he can be humourous at times, his works are an adult dose, and “The Present Age” is no different. When he compared the tabloid papers to dogs that could be unleashed upon some superior, he wasn’t being hyperbolic. The very idea of the mass media drove him insane, and it shows throughout the text. One of the more famous quotes:
“Only someone who knows how to remain essentially silent can really talk — and act essentially. Silence is the essence of inwardness, of the inner life. Mere gossip anticipates real talk and to express what is still in thought weakens action by forestalling it. But someone who can really talk because he knows how to remain silent, will not talk about a variety of things but about one thing only.”
That quote stays with me, because there is something humbling about it. I’ll have an idea about something, either in work or in life. I’ll see it in my head a certain way, but then I fall into that mindset where I think that because I see the thing a certain way, that that’s enough. So, perhaps the best thing for me would be to pause and wait. Not to censor myself, but to be productive, in work and in life. What Kierkegaard has done here is articulate this for me, something I’ve struggled to put into words.
In “The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle,” Kierkegaard cites the biblical figure Paul as the archetypal apostle. Paul “does not develop in such a way as he gradually becomes what he is,” based on potential, at least. He is no more or less than a genius, and anyone can be appointed an apostle. And yet, paradoxically, the apostle is appointed, his mission and purpose determined by God. Here, Kierkegaard wrestles with the assumption that Paul’s authority is simply a given. Such truths are largely dependent on historical context, and yet there is his divine purpose, prescribed by a greater power (if I’m getting that right). While not as widely read as “The Present Age,” this essay is an interesting proposition that deserves some more thorough analysis.
Many readers have fallen in love with Camus and Nietzsche at some point, and I recommend the works of Kierkegaard to anyone on that existentialist kick. He masterfully articulates the need for conscious living in “The Present Age.” Prescient, since everything described the essay could easily be about the media nightmare we live in now, but more than worth the time.
Lawrence Deveney 