Anxiety, Time, and Authenticity
The experience of anxiety has been tied to our struggle to find meaning in life, particularly in the face of death, uncertainty, and the limitations of time. Three major thinkers — Martin Heidegger, Martin Buber, and Søren Kierkegaard — have explored this existential condition, each providing unique insights into how anxiety shapes our understanding of Being. More than just psychological discomfort, anxiety, for these philosophers, is a window into the depths of human existence. It forces us to confront the transient nature of life, the potential for authentic relationships, and the leap of faith required for a meaningful existence.
This confrontation with finitude and nothingness is not simply a source of despair. Instead, it can serve as a path to authenticity, pushing us toward living in a way that reflects our deepest values and potentials. With the complexities of time and human relationships, the role of anxiety becomes crucial in determining whether we live authentically or fall into inauthentic modes of existence. Furthermore, the recurring phrase in the Bible, “fear and trembling,” which Søren Kierkegaard famously explored in his book Fear and Trembling, can be understood as a reflection of this profound existential anxiety.
In the Bible, fear and trembling are often associated with encountering the divine, much like Buber’s I-Thou relationship or Kierkegaard’s leap of faith. It is not mere fear of danger but an awe-filled recognition of one’s finitude in the face of God or ultimate reality. By drawing these threads together — Heidegger’s anxiety about time, Buber’s emphasis on relational existence, and Kierkegaard’s leap of faith — we can explore how anxiety, fear, and finitude shape our lives and our connection to the divine.
Heidegger’s Anxiety: Confronting the Void of Existence
For Martin Heidegger, anxiety is more than a fleeting emotion; it is an essential mode of existence that reveals the “nothingness” at the core of life. In Being and Time, Heidegger distinguishes anxiety (Angst) from fear. Fear is directed toward specific threats, but anxiety arises from a more fundamental confrontation with the emptiness of existence. When we experience anxiety, the everyday world of routines, relationships, and objects loses its significance. We are forced to confront our Being, stripped of its external meanings.
This stripping away is not simply a loss but an opportunity for reflection. In moments of anxiety, we become acutely aware of our finitude — our mortality — and the fact that our time is limited. Time, in Heidegger’s philosophy, is inseparable from Being; it is the horizon that gives meaning to our lives. As beings-toward-death, we cannot escape the inevitability of death, but this awareness of death allows us to live more authentically. By facing anxiety head-on, we move beyond superficial distractions and take ownership of our existence.
Anxiety, for Heidegger, is therefore a gateway to authenticity. When we acknowledge our finite existence, we are prompted to live in a way that reflects our true self rather than conforming to societal norms or external pressures. The confrontation with nothingness brings about a heightened awareness of the choices we make, and it is through these choices that we create meaning in our lives. Heidegger’s exploration of anxiety shows us that, far from being something to fear or avoid, anxiety is a necessary part of living authentically.
Fear and Trembling: Anxiety as a Leap of Faith
Søren Kierkegaard’s use of the phrase fear and trembling offers a powerful lens through which to understand the concept of anxiety as it relates to faith. In his book Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard argues the story of Abraham, whose willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac demonstrates the profound tension between faith and ethical norms. For Kierkegaard, Abraham’s decision to act on faith in God, despite the apparent absurdity of the command, represents the ultimate leap of faith — a leap that requires confronting one’s deepest anxieties.
The phrase fear and trembling, often used in the Bible, refers not to ordinary fear but to an overwhelming sense of awe and reverence when faced with the divine. In this context, it is closer to what Heidegger describes as anxiety: an existential condition that arises when we confront our finitude and our relationship to something infinitely greater than ourselves. For Kierkegaard, this anxiety is inseparable from the freedom to make choices that are grounded not in reason or ethics but in a profound trust in the divine.
In facing this anxiety, one is called to make a leap of faith, much like Abraham. Kierkegaard emphasizes that this leap cannot be made through rational calculation; it is a movement beyond the ethical and into the religious, where one acts out of an absolute relation to the divine. This leap is fraught with anxiety because it demands the surrender of one’s own understanding and control. Yet, it is through this leap that the individual moves toward authentic existence. In this way, anxiety becomes a transformative force, leading one to confront the unknown and, through faith, embrace it.
Time and the “I-Thou” Encounter in Buber’s Thought
Martin Buber’s I-Thou philosophy presents a different approach to understanding anxiety and authenticity, focusing on the relational aspect of existence. In I and Thou, Buber describes two fundamental modes of engagement with the world: I-It and I-Thou. In the I-It relationship, we objectify others, seeing them as means to an end, whereas in the I-Thou relationship, we engage with others as full beings, entering into a genuine encounter.
The I-Thou relationship is timeless in nature. When we encounter another being in this way, whether a person, a part of nature, or even God, the constraints of time fade away, and we are fully present in the moment. This encounter opens us to the Eternal Thou, Buber’s term for the divine, which represents the ultimate I-Thou relationship. Unlike the I-It mode, where time and utility dominate, the I-Thou encounter transcends time and opens us to the infinite.
In Buber’s thought, anxiety arises when we fail to experience these authentic I-Thou encounters. The modern world, with its focus on efficiency and objectification, often traps us in I-It relationships, where others are reduced to objects. This mode of being can lead to a sense of alienation and disconnection, much like Heidegger’s experience of nothingness in anxiety. However, Buber offers a different solution: by seeking I-Thou relationships, we can transcend the alienation of modern life and open ourselves to authentic encounters with others and the divine.
Confronting the Finitude of Being in the Digital Age
In our contemporary world, where distractions are abundant and relationships are often mediated by technology, the insights of Heidegger, Buber, and Kierkegaard offer a valuable framework for understanding how to live more authentically. The fear and trembling described in biblical texts, and explored by Kierkegaard, can be seen as a form of anxiety that calls us to confront our finitude and the uncertainties of life. However, instead of succumbing to despair, this confrontation can push us toward deeper relationships with others and with God.
The constant flow of information and entertainment in the digital age can serve as a distraction from these existential concerns. As Heidegger warns, we can easily fall into inauthentic modes of existence, avoiding the anxiety that arises from our awareness of time and mortality. By embracing this anxiety and reflecting on our being-toward-death, we can make choices that reflect our true values rather than conforming to external pressures.
Buber’s philosophy of I-Thou offers a path toward overcoming the alienation of modern life. In a world where relationships are often reduced to transactions, Buber reminds us that genuine encounters are possible when we engage with others as full beings. This relational approach opens us to the divine, helping us move beyond the superficiality of modern existence and toward a more meaningful life. The fear and trembling we experience in these moments of encounter with the divine is not to be avoided but embraced as part of our journey toward authentic existence.
The Timeless Relevance of Anxiety
The philosophies of Heidegger, Buber, and Kierkegaard converge in their recognition of anxiety as a fundamental element of human existence. Rather than viewing anxiety as something to be avoided or suppressed, they present it as a gateway to authentic living. Heidegger’s notion of being-toward-death emphasizes the importance of confronting our own mortality as a means of embracing life with greater intentionality. In this way, anxiety becomes not a paralyzing force but a necessary reminder of our finitude, pushing us toward choices that reflect our true selves and values.
Buber’s concept of the I-Thou relationship offers another dimension to this existential framework. In authentic encounters with others and with the divine, time and utility fall away, allowing us to experience a deeper sense of connection that transcends the ordinary. The anxiety that arises from isolation and objectification can be alleviated by fostering these genuine relationships, opening up the possibility of encountering the Eternal Thou — an experience that brings a sense of sacredness and meaning to human life. These encounters remind us of the infinite within the finite, offering a reprieve from the alienation of modern existence.
Kierkegaard’s leap of faith further complements this exploration, showing that anxiety, particularly the fear and trembling that accompanies our encounter with the divine, is integral to the journey toward faith and authenticity. In recognizing our limitations and embracing the unknown, we engage in a transformative act that moves us beyond rationality into a deeper, more profound engagement with life. Together, these philosophies offer a roadmap for living authentically in a world filled with distractions, reminding us that anxiety, rather than a source of despair, can be the very force that propels us toward genuine meaning and connection.
Image by Peter H
