In our hyper-connected world, the pressure to conform is more insidious than ever. Whether it’s subscribing to popular opinions, following trends, or curating an acceptable public image, many find themselves swept along by the momentum of what Søren Kierkegaard called the crowd. For the Danish philosopher, this wasn’t simply a social phenomenon — it was a spiritual crisis.
Kierkegaard believed that the “crowd” represents the loss of individual responsibility. And in today’s culture of performative identity and societal comparison, his warning is more relevant than ever.
The Crowd as the Enemy of the Self
In Kierkegaard’s writings, especially in The Sickness Unto Death and Two Ages, the crowd symbolises a collective mindset where the individual ceases to think for themselves. The crowd dulls moral responsibility, encourages mediocrity, and creates a dangerous illusion of safety in numbers. It whispers: “Don’t question. Don’t stand out. Just follow.”
But Kierkegaard argues that true selfhood is impossible within the crowd. To become a genuine individual, one must separate from the anonymous mass and face oneself — and God — directly.
The Modern Crowd: Likes, Labels, and Lifestyle
The modern crowd doesn’t gather in public squares — it lives in algorithms, comment sections, and social expectations. It dictates how we should look, what we should value, and how we should express ourselves. It thrives on comparison, applause, and outrage.
Many of us, often unknowingly, conform to this crowd by adopting beliefs, lifestyles, or identities that feel safe and accepted — even if they are misaligned with who we really are.
The Courage to Stand Apart
For Kierkegaard, authentic individuality is not about being rebellious for its own sake. It’s about becoming the person you were created to be — which requires courage, self-examination, and faith. Escaping the crowd is a quiet, inward revolution: not shouting louder, but listening deeper.
Standing apart may be uncomfortable, but it is essential for spiritual and psychological growth. As Kierkegaard famously wrote, “The crowd is untruth.” Truth, by contrast, lives in the tension of solitude, responsibility, and honest selfhood.
Why This Still Matters Today
Mental health struggles today are often rooted in identity confusion, lack of purpose, and the fatigue of constant performance. Kierkegaard offers a timeless reminder: fulfilment is not found in becoming what others expect, but in becoming who you truly are.
His philosophy isn’t merely academic — it is a radical call to live with integrity in a world that rewards imitation.
💡 To explore Kierkegaard’s insights on despair, faith, and the search for authentic selfhood, don’t forget to check out The Sickness Unto Death: A Modern Translation for the 21st Century — a fresh, accessible edition for today’s readers.