ANGST AND HOPE

Kierkegaard's angst is the transition between stages, a feeling of dread and despair that threatens the individual's purpose. However, Kierkegaard closely associates angst with hope; it is always a motivation for the individual to find satisfaction in higher things. The aesthetic man who becomes discontent with drinking and drugs learns to find happiness in helping and protecting other people, meaning he has moved on to the Ethical stage of life. Once he becomes dissatisfied with the ethical stage because people have been taking advantage of him, he finds greater purpose in religion because of the angst he found in the ethical stage. Kierkegaard describes this as the best and greatest leap to purpose, although people can be in whatever stage they choose to be in at any given time. Thus, angst can always provide hope for the individual.