Soren Kierkegaard's works delve into existential themes such as anxiety, faith, and the individual experience. Often regarded as the father of existentialism, he emphasized the importance of personal choice and responsibility, arguing that authentic existence stems from individual engagement with one’s own faith and beliefs. Kierkegaard viewed anxiety as central to the human condition, pushing individuals to confront their existence and choices. His concepts of the leap of faith and the stages of life—such as aesthetic, ethical, and religious—encourage deeper introspection within the realm of philosophy, transitioning away from dogmatic faith toward subjective truth.