Inspirational Quotes by Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling (German Philosopher)

Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling (1775–1854) was a prominent German philosopher and educator known for his significant contributions to German idealism in the post-Kantian era of German philosophy.

Born in Leonberg, Württemberg, Schelling pursued his studies at Tübingen and Leipzig and subsequently held teaching positions at various universities: Jena (1798–1803) as the successor to Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Würzburg (1803–08,) Munich (until 1820) where he served as the secretary of the Royal Academy of Arts, Erlangen (1820–27,) Munich again (1827–40,) and finally Berlin (1841–46.)

Schelling gained recognition for his early work in natural philosophy, which was influenced by the ideas of Immanuel Kant and Fichte. Schelling sought to integrate scientific knowledge with metaphysical speculation. Notable works from this period include Ideen zu einer Philosophie der Natur (1797; translated as Idealism and Philosophy of Nature) and System des transcendentalen Idealismus (1800; translated as System of Transcendental Idealism.) These works explored the relationship between the self and the objective world, arguing that consciousness is the only immediate object of knowledge and that art provides the means for the mind to fully comprehend itself. Schelling’s ideas had a significant impact on the development of romanticism.

Over time, Schelling’s philosophy underwent a transformation, shifting its focus from nature to the realms of freedom and the Absolute. In his later works, such as Philosophische Untersuchungen über das Wesen der menschlichen Freiheit (1809; translated as Of Human Freedom) and Die Weltalter (1811; translated as The Ages of the World,) he delved into concepts like identity, freedom, and the relationship between the mind and the world. His ideas influenced many thinkers, including Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and the early existentialists.

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