Schelling's Philosophy of Human Freedom (2015 - 2021)
This project was funded by the DFG.
This project was funded by the DFG.
Schelling's Philosophical Inquiries into the Essence of Human Freedom is generally acknowledged as his most important work. Above all, from the point of view of the history of philosophy, Schelling's treatise on freedom has now been thoroughly studied, and philosophical research has also interpreted some aspects of Schelling's philosophy of freedom, often convincingly.
What we are still lacking today is a comprehensive methodical and systematic-conceptual investigation of Schelling's thought which does justice to his claim to capture the "feeling of freedom" in the concept in such a way that it can claim validity "in connection with a scientific worldview" (Freiheitsschrift SW VII, 336)
Such a reconciliation of freedom and the "scientific woldview" requires, as a glance at the relevant passages in the treatise can tell you, three things according to Schelling: first, that individually felt freedom can (against Jacobi's view) become an object of rational study in general terms (epistemic compatibilism); second, that freedom of an individual can be conceived together with the natural-scientific and historical-social determinism governing every agent (ontological compatibilism): third and finally, that human freedom (which is finite by human nature) is compatible with the divine omni-properties - omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence - or divine providence in general (theological compatibilism).
It is the aim of this project, funded by the DFG, to carry out a systematic philosophical development of the compatibilist concept in the treatise on freedom. This task is urgent principally because Schelling's position can only be brought into fruitful dialogue with the modern debate after such a reappraisal.
In particular, the project's goals are the following:
Project team:
The project team is also a part of a larger circle of researchers who study Schelling's philosophy, which has involved fellows from abroad who were already in the vicinity of the Chair, and which has made the treatise on freedom and its philosophical and theological sources the main object of intensive and systematic study for around a year. Apart from talks, guest residencies and the involvement of international fellows and post-docs in the project work and research seminar, two workshops will also subject the results to a critical review and discussion within the circle of cooperation partners and beyond.