Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.15291/ai4691

Schelling’s Logic of Ground in 1809

Matthew NINI orcid.org/0009-0005-5197-4707 ; The University of Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

Schelling’s seminal 1809 Freedom Essay is an answer to perceived
accusations of pantheism, and therefore an occasion for Schelling to
rethink his own monism or “All-Einheitslehre.” In an attempt to creatively
reinterpret the pantheist trope expressed by the phrase “God is all
things,” Schelling will consecrate the opening pages of his Freedom Essay
to a rereading of the principle of identity. This paper seeks to elucidate
the development of Schelling’s theory of identity, paying particular
attention to its oldest sources, especially Plato’s theory of the “soul of the
world,” Kant’s teleology, and Gottfried Ploucquet’s logic. It will argue
that Schelling gives equal importance to the theory of identity, and a
revised version of the principle of sufficient reason, which we will call
“the principle of ground.” This will give rise to the foundational distinction
of the 1809 Essay, the idea of God having a ground that is in him,
but not to be confused with him insofar as he exists. To say that “God is
all things” is therefore a description of how parts and wholes interact in
an organic system, or more specifically, how microcosmic systems relate
to the overarching macrocosm to which they belong.

Keywords

Schelling; Freedom Essay; Principle of identity; Pantheism; German Idealism

Hrčak ID:

327940

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/327940

Publication date:

14.2.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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