Socratic Deception in Service of the Truth as Kierkegaard's Pathway between Irrationality and Rationality

Kierkegaard's view on rational human abilities in relation to faith presents an important problem when researching his works. The article focuses on the question of rationality. It aims to explain the fact that in specific segments, Kierkegaard's thought seems irrational, while in others, it appears more rational. The article tries to see this dilemma in light of a particular method, the Socratic deception devised by Kierkegaard himself, whom Socrates inspired. First of all, segments in which Kierkegaard's thought appears irrational, either in the way of fideism or relativism, are shown. Being aware of these irrational characteristics, the article then describes how the Danish author presents a Socrates-inspired method of deception in service of the truth. This presents a hermeneutic key that offers his initial irrationalities to be read in a broader sense. The last part of the article aims to show specific consequences that emerge from this Socratic pathway. Thus, more characteristics are presented regarding Kierkegaard's paradoxical rationality.