Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling was a German philosopher who lived from 1775 to 1854. He is considered one of the key figures in German Idealism, alongside Immanuel Kant and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Schelling's philosophical ideas covered a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy of nature, philosophy of art, and philosophy of religion.
Schelling's philosophy stressed the concept of absolute or objective idealism, which posits that the ultimate reality is a unity of self-consciousness and nature. According to him, nature is not a separate entity from the mind, but rather a manifestation or projection of it. He believed that the universe and human consciousness are interconnected and that they both share a common origin in a divine Absolute.
One of Schelling's major contributions to philosophy is his concept of identity philosophy, which seeks to reconcile the subject-object distinction. According to Schelling, the absolute is not a static entity but rather a dynamic process of self-realization. This process involves a dialectical tension between opposites, where the absolute strives to overcome its self-division and achieve self-awareness.
Schelling's work had a significant influence on later philosophers, particularly in the areas of existentialism, phenomenology, and postmodern thought. He also had a profound impact on fields such as psychology, biology, and mysticism. Despite his initial popularity, Schelling's ideas fell out of favor during the late 19th century but experienced a revival in the 20th century as scholars recognized his contributions to the development of philosophical thought.
