THE DEATH OF PHILOSOPHY IN KIERKEGAARD AND HAWKING

Not only the humanities focus their direct research on a person as a substantial self in social, psychological and ethical terms, but also the hard sciences endeavour to do the same albeit indirectly. Their aim is to provide answers to the question about the origin of the universe by offering the ground, from which philosophical implications of such understanding of man are being drawn, back to the soft sciences in many ways. The author analyses Stephen Hawking's view of human freedom as presented in his book, The Grand Design. and the role of Philosophy in the consequent endeavour of human research. This study offers an analysis of Kierkegaard's thought as presented in his monumental work, Concluding Unscientific Postscript to the Philosophical Fragments. and, Philosophical Fragments. in comparison with Hawking's strictly naturalist approach. It shows that both authors hold the same position regarding the limits of Philosophy, but along with that also the massive discord in their reasoning behind it as well as the implications stemming from this position.