According to Kierkegaard, history can be considered in two ways: On the one hand, it
is useless in its pure objectivity of data and dates, casual deeds and events; on the other
hand, it is essential if we consider the fact that the eternal has become present in it,
hence that God has become part of it. Thus, Kierkegaard differs from both Socrates and
Lessing by thinking about reason, truth and the eternal as present in history. The instant
is the category with which Kierkegaard tries to think about this historical convergence
of the historical and the eternal
