Daniel Whistler, “Schelling’s...
Carlos Morujão and Andreas Gonçalves Lind, “Schelling’s Legacy in Contemporary Philosophy. Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Schelling’s Birth,” Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia 82, nos. 1–2 (2026): 13–18, https://doi.org/10.17990/RPF/2026_82_1_0013.
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Carlos Morujão |
| Author | Andreas Gonçalves Lind |
| Abstract | For over a century following his death, F. W. J. Schelling (1775-1854) occupied a relatively minor role in historical research on German Idealism, often viewed merely as a transitional figure between Fichte and Hegel. It is true that Schelling’s claims in his Berlin Lectures, shortly after Hegel’s death, of making philosophy reconnect with actual existence sparked the interest of thinkers so different as Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Engels (in addition to Hegel’s former students). Nevertheless, this interest was quickly followed by disappointment. However, this perception has shifted significantly since the 1960s. In fact, pioneering works by scholars such as Horst Fuhrmans in Germany, Luigi Pareyson and Francesco Moiso in Italy, and notably Xavier Tilliette and Jean-François Marquet in France, have highlighted Schelling’s profound philosophical originality. With this special issue, the Portuguese Philosophical Journal (Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia – RPF) aims to examine the multifaceted ways in which Schelling’s philosophy has been shaping key areas of philosophical inquiry, including existentialism, phenomenology, critical theory, and systematic theology. In this regard, noteworthy examples of this influence include Martin Heidegger’s engagement with Schelling’s work, particularly concerning the ontological difference between Being and beings. Traces of Schelling can also be found in his Letter on Humanism, published in 1947. Hans-Georg Gadamer, who studied under Heidegger’s guidance in Marburg, once wrote that, after reading a passage of Schelling’s Treatise on Human Freedom, Heidegger asked his students: “can you point to me a sentence of Hegel that is so profound as this one?” Similarly, philosophers such as Karl Jaspers and Gabriel Marcel have re-evaluated Schelling’s legacy, positioning him as a precursor of existentialism. Besides that, Schelling’s thought also left a discernible imprint on French spiritualism, especially in the work of Félix Ravaisson and its reception, drew on his philosophy of nature and his notion of a living, productive freedom to counter the mechanistic reduction of nature and spirit. Furthermore, Schelling’s philosophy has also made a significant impact on materialist frameworks. In this regard, Jürgen Habermas’ interpretation of Schelling’s philosophy of nature, for instance, recasts the German idealist as a precursor to a non-deterministic materialism. And, within Marxist thought, Schelling’s ideas have been both a subject of critique and a source of inspiration, from early critiques by Marx and Engels to later discussions by thinkers like Georg Lukács. This raises important questions such as: In what ways do Schelling’s later works intersect with or diverge from Marxist theory? Looking at it from another angle, Schelling’s legacy appears in contemporary phenomenology, where thinkers such as Michel Henry revisit his reflections on the manifestation of an unprethinkable life beyond the horizon of intentionality. In addition, Schelling’s “philosophy of Revelation” has left a lasting mark on theologians such as Paul Tillich, Walter Kasper, and, more recently, Emilio Brito, as well as on the phenomenologist and 2020 Ratzinger Prize laureate Jean-Luc Marion. In this context, one could ask if Schelling’s philosophy has anticipated the anthropological turn of contemporary theology. For decades, translations of Schelling’s works were scarce. The sole exception was the Freiheitsschrift, which has been the subject of four significant twentieth-century French translations, each offering a distinct theological and philosophical interpretation. These translations have played a pivotal role in shaping the reception of Schelling’s philosophy within the broader European intellectual landscape, particularly in relation to the concept of freedom. Also in Germany, Martin Heidegger dedicated a famous course to this text during his Freiburg lectures in 1936, which was later published as a book. Engagement with Schelling’s philosophy, especially within the continental tradition, has increased since the second half of the 20th century. In France, Merleau-Ponty showed some interest in Schelling’s Philosophy of Nature, namely, in the fact that Schelling acknowledged the existence in nature of a barbaric principle, irreducible to the logical constructions of human mind. And, more recently, philosophers such as Emmanuel Falque have explored Schelling’s insights, particularly in the domains of phenomenology and theology. In this way, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Schelling’s birth, our Portuguese Philosophical Journal presents a special issue dedicated to exploring the enduring relevance of his thought in contemporary philosophy. This issue brings together thirteen contributions, divided into four thematic sections, from scholars working at the intersection of philosophy and theology. |
| Date | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Library Catalog | 193; 113; 115; 126; 210 |
| License | © 2026 by Aletheia - Associação Científica e Cultural |
| Volume | 82 |
| Place | Braga |
| Publisher | Axioma - Publicações da Faculdade de Filosofia |
| Section | Schelling’s Legacy in Contemporary Philosophy. Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Schelling’s Birth |
| Pages | 13-18 |
| Publication | Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia |
| DOI | 10.17990/RPF/2026_82_1_0013 |
| Issue | 1-2 |
| Journal Abbr | RPF |
| ISSN | 0870-5283 ; 2183-461X |
| Date Added | 7/31/2026, 8:54:57 PM |
| Modified | 7/31/2026, 9:53:15 PM |
