for the existentialists, what generated anxiety was not…
““for the existentialists, what generated anxiety was not the godlessness of the world, per se, but rather the freedom to choose between God and godlessness. Though freedom is something we actively seek, the freedom to choose generates anxiety. “When I behold my possibilities,” Kierkegaard wrote, “I experience that dread which is the dizziness of freedom, and my choice is made in fear and trembling.” Many people try to flee anxiety by fleeing choice. This helps explain the perverse-seeming appeal of authoritarian societies—the certainties of a rigid, choiceless society can be very reassuring—and why times of upheaval so often produce extremist leaders and movements: Hitler in Weimar Germany, Father Coughlin in Depression-era America, or Jean-Marie Le Pen in France and Vladimir Putin in Russia today. But running from anxiety, Kierkegaard believed, was a mistake because anxiety was a “school” that taught people to come to terms with the human condition.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that anxiety stems from the freedom to choose, not from a lack of God, and that avoiding choice leads to authoritarian appeal.
In simple terms: Anxiety comes from freedom to choose, not godlessness.
Key Takeaway
Embrace choice to grow.
Themes
philosophy
existentialism
politics
psychology
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- Political upheaval
- personal decision making
- social movements
- authoritarian regimes
Key Concepts
Freedom
anxiety
choice
authoritarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does choice create anxiety?
- Can fear be transformed into growth?
A Different Perspective
Avoiding anxiety can lead to oppressive systems.