Wisdom And Philosophy

The Possibility of Relativism and Moral Anarchy in Kierkegaard’s Thought: A Study of MacIntyre’s Critiques and Contemporary Responses

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Asma Fanniasl
Mahdi Akhavan

Allameh Tabatabai University

https://doi.org/10.22054/wph.2026.89730.2358
Abstract
This article examines a major criticism of Søren Kierkegaard's moral philosophy: the charge of "ethical anarchy." From an Aristotelian-Thomistic perspective, Alasdair MacIntyre contends that Kierkegaard's emphasis on the "teleological suspension of the ethical" and the primacy of individual faith undermines moral rationality and risks relativism. This study employs an analytical-descriptive approach to clarify Kierkegaard's understanding of the relationship between ethics and faith and to examine MacIntyre's four main criticisms. By drawing on contemporary philosophical responses and Kierkegaard's own texts, the article argues that these charges stem largely from reductive readings. It shows that the "suspension of the ethical" constitutes an exceptional and paradoxical experience, contingent upon conditions such as anxiety, the suffering of solitude, and love, which prevent its misuse. Consequently, Kierkegaardian ethics, despite its radical individualism, does not lead to anarchy but rather strives for a more authentic and committed moral life wherein values are internalized through personal responsibility.

Keywords

Søren Kierkegaard Alasdair MacIntyre
Ethical Anarchy
Teleological Suspension of the Ethical
Individuality
Individual Faith
Subjects
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Wisdom And Philosophy
Volume 22, Issue 85
Winter 2026
Pages 1-32

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