Soeren Kierkegaard’s pseudonyms

Soeren Kierkegaard is well known for his use of several pseudonyms for publishing philosophical works. For example, when one of his famous works The Concept of Anxietywas originally published in 1844, its official title was printed in the following way: The Concept of Anxiety: A Simple Psychologically-Oriented Reflection on the Dogmatic Problem of Original Sin by Vigilius Haufniensis.

It is said that this pseudonym, Vigilius Haufniensis, means ‘watchman of Copenhagen’ and taking the subtitle of the work into the consideration, it is argued that this pseudonym could be recognised as following: ‘As a “watchman” it would seem that Kierkegaard is aware of his own importance to the well-being of his city.’ (http://sorenkierkegaard.org/concept-of-anxiety.html)

The author of the website quoted above also gives interesting views on Kierkegaard’s another pseudonym with providing a concise annotation on the two best known works by the Danish philosopher:

‘He would more profoundly fulfil that role (of a watchman) in 1854 when he attacked the church. The companion piece, The Sickness Unto Death, is taken over by the pseudonym Anti-Climacus because Kierkegaard had ceased to use all other previous pseudonyms after 1848, when he began his period of direct communication.

It is largely through this work (The Concept of Anxiety) and The Sickness Unto Death that Kierkegaard has been called the father of modern psychology. In this work he posits anxiety as a necessary state preceding the qualitative leap of faith into Christianity. Kierkegaard focuses his examination on the Christian doctrine of original sin. The subtitle of the work illuminates the study…He tells us in his introduction that dogmatics will prevail over philosophy, but dogmatics understood in its psychological effects.’ (ibid)

Soeren Kierkegaard