The Curious Gadfly

  Hegel’s Early Life and Education Born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1770, the same year as the poet Hölderlin and Kant’s Inaugural Dissertation . He was a Swabian, like Schelling, and later became one of the most influential German philosophers. Hegel’s school years were marked by mediocrity. He showed no signs of his later philosophical genius. At 18, he joined the Protestant Theological Seminary at Tübingen, where he befriended Schelling and Hölderlin. His academic performance was average, with his final certificate noting a "fair" understanding of theology and philology but a poor grasp of philosophy. After completing his studies at the University of Tübingen, Hegel’s professional journey took him to the role of a private tutor in Berne (Switzerland) and Frankfurt (Germany). During this period, he wrote a series of essays, which were later compiled into Hegel’s Early The...

  Schelling’s Philosophy of the World presents a daring vision of nature and the Absolute, seeking to reconcile subjectivity and objectivity and emphasize the dynamic, living aspect of nature. However, his contributions have been both praised and criticized, especially when juxtaposed with contemporaries like Kant, Hegel, and Lamarck, and when assessed in light of later philosophical developments. Schelling’s departure from Kant’s approach to nature is a hallmark of his philosophy: Critique of Kant’s Mathematical-Rational Reductionism: Kant’s philosophy of nature, influenced by Newtonian mechanics, framed the world in terms of universal laws and rational structures, often sidelining the individuality and particularity found in nature. Goethe, among others, found this approach overly restrictive, emphasizing that nature cannot be reduced solely to universalist or mathematical frameworks. Schelling’s Response: Schell...

  Schelling’s Philosophy of Man builds upon his broader metaphysical framework, emphasizing the unique role of humanity in the natural and spiritual world. He viewed humanity as the culmination of nature’s evolutionary journey and as the medium through which nature and the Absolute achieve self-awareness. His insights blend metaphysical, ethical, and historical considerations, providing a holistic view of human existence. Schelling believed that humans are not separate from nature but are nature "coming to know itself." Through human consciousness, nature reflects on its own existence and understands its connection to the Absolute. Humanity and the Absolute The Absolute (Schelling’s idea of ultimate reality) encompasses everything: nature, spirit, mind, and more. Humanity is special because it provides the link between nature and the Absolute. When humans think about the universe, they are, in a sense, the Absolute becoming fully aware of itself. Humanity: The Su...

  Schelling's practical philosophy focuses on the development of freedom —the ability of the mind to act deliberately and shape the world. It examines how intelligence, having evolved to understand itself and the external world (as described in theoretical philosophy ), becomes aware of its capacity for independent action, choice, and creativity. This stage represents the transition from understanding to action . It explores how the mind moves beyond passively observing or understanding the world to actively participating in and transforming it. Awareness of Freedom : Freedom emerges when the mind recognizes that it is not bound by external forces or purely natural laws but has the capacity to choose and act autonomously. Moral Responsibility : With the realization of freedom comes the ability to distinguish between good and evil. The mind takes responsibility for its actions and begins to shape the world according...

  Schelling’s Philosophy of the World is deeply rooted in his overarching attempt to reconcile the dualities of subjectivity and objectivity, nature and spirit, mind and matter. His exploration addresses fundamental metaphysical questions, particularly: “Why is there something rather than nothing?” This preoccupation led Schelling to expand and refine the frameworks established by Fichte , ultimately presenting a vision of reality as a dynamic, evolving unity. The Question of Existence The question “Why is there anything at all? Why not nothing?” reflects Schelling’s metaphysical curiosity about the origins of existence. Unlike Fichte, who emphasized the primacy of the subjective ego, Schelling sought a more objective grounding for reality , especially with regard to nature. For Schelling, nature and spirit were not oppositional forces but manifestations of a single, unified Absolute. He believed that understanding the world required a synthesis of two perspectives: ...