„Asaltul Cerului” – Søren Kierkegaard și Ioan Scărarul. O analiză asupra pseudonimiei filosofului danez
"The Assault of Heaven" - Søren Kierkegaard and John Climacus. An analysis of the pseudonym of the Danish philosopher

Author(s): Vlăduț Cârlan
Subject(s): Philosophy, Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion, Existentialism, Philosophy of Religion
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: Søren Kierkegaard; John of the Ladder; christian existentialism; eastern mystical tradition;
Summary/Abstract: Four of the pseudonyms under which Søren Kierkegaard wrote his work reflect the mystical dimension and emphasis on interiority, and two of them have the equivalent in historical figuers: (1) Johannes Climacus - St. John of The Ladder, 7th century and (2)Johannes de Silentio – John the Silent or John the Hesychast, 5th-6th century. Given this aspect, in this article I will analyze the first pseudonym, more precisely the relationship between Johannes Climacus and his historical analogue, Ioannes Klimakos. What is the reason why Kierkegaard chose the name of the one of the most important mystical writers of the first christian millenium as his main pseudonym? Is this choice purely arbitrary? Is this similarity between the idea of spiritual ascension encountered in John of the Ladder and the ascending pattern that Johannes Climacus applies to his philosophical ”system” a mere coincidence? Starting from this questions, I will prove that the danish philosopher has precise reasons when he chooses his pseudonym. This reasons are centered on the „archetype of the spiritual ascent” manifested by the biblical metaphor of the „Ladder of Paradise”. Both Johannes Climacus and John of the Ladder aim the „assault of Heaven”; the first, through an investigative-intellectual approach (as a „thought project” of „poetic experiment”), from outside Christianity, but guided by a passionate interest in finding out the truth of this teaching; the second, by the radical ascetic-mystical method specific to the monastic life. One seeks the truth of Christianity in order to assume it at the existential level, the other seeks to unite with God, but both have the same goal - the attainment of spiritual perfection.

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