Il soggetto kenotico.

Dialogo filosofico tra Gianni Vattimo e Søren Kierkegaard

Abstract

Vattimo frequently references Kierkegaard in his writings, but does not deeply engage with his philosophy, particularly on the notion of kenosis, which is crucial for both thinkers. My paper aims to compare their interpretations of kenosis, first analyzing points of divergence, and then exploring areas of convergence. For Vattimo, Kierkegaard’s tragic Christianity, centered on an absolutely transcendent view of kenosis, represents an extreme form of metaphysics and humanism. In contrast, Vattimo reinterprets kenosis as central to his weak thought, linking secularization, nihilism, and interpretation, which allows for the deconstruction of subjectivism and the experience of a radically kenotic subjectivity. However, these opposing perspectives suggest a potential third path: recognizing the ontological and epistemological paradox of Kierkegaard’s kenosis as the core of a “weak” theology, aligning unexpectedly with Vattimo’s postmodern vision. This reinterpretation could use Vattimo’s conceptual tools to reframe Kierkegaard’s theology as “weak” metaphysics, opening space for a new kenotic subjectivity.