Faith involves a 'teleological suspension of the ethical' Essay

Faith involves a 'teleological suspension of the ethical' - Essay Example In the book, Kierkegaard explores the 4 Abraham story retelling; he dwells majorly on the ethical and religious. Kierkegaard argues that Isaac being killed is bad and wrong ethically but it is right religiously. Kierkegaard is also seen to apply the Abraham story for the sake of distinguishing between resignation and faith. Abraham is seen to have been tasked to murder Isaac merely due to he had been told by God to abide by as well as he was so much aware that God was right always. Kierkegaard however argues that Abraham never acted basing on the fact that God should be obeyed always but rather basing on the fact that God has no capacity to to what is ethically wrong. Abraham for very much aware that it was ethically wrong when he kills Isaac, but he knew God would spare his son because he had faith. Abraham made a decision of doing something that was wrong ethically due to he had faith in good will of God that was righteously right. Kierkegaard argues that the tension that exists be tween religion and ethics results to anxiety of Abraham (Kierkegaard et al, 1983). According to Kierkegaard the story of Abraham retellings, it is seen to demonstrate the significance of â€Å"teleological suspension of the ethical.† Teleological implies â€Å"in relation to the end.†For instance, if someone is hungry and later decides to have some food to get satisfied, then this implies that the person made a decision that is teleological: The action was to eat in order to attain the end of not being hungry. Abraham undertakes a teleological ethical suspension the time he makes a decision of killing Isaac. Abraham is so much aware that it is unethical killing Isaac. Abraham however makes a decision of suspending the ethical, in simpler terms, putting the concerns related to ethical on the back burner due to the faith he has in the end righteousness (or telos) that will be brought