Schelling’s Late Political Philosophy: Lectures 22-24 of the Presentation of the Purely Rational Philosophy

Authors

  • Kyla Bruff Memorial University of Newfoundland

Abstract

From approximately 1847 until the end of his life in 1854, Schelling wrote on a range of philosophical topics with the ultimate goal of explicating a purely rational philosophy, particularly as it relates to mythology, religion and revelation. The notes and fragments from this period were assembled by Schelling’s son, K.F.A. Schelling, in a collection of 24 lectures known as the Presentation of the Purely Rational Philosophy. While the importance of this work for the development of Schelling’s negative and positive philosophy is well-known, the significance of the political content which appears near the end of the lecture series has been largely ignored. This could be in part attributable to the heavy hand that K.F.A had in composing the final lecture of the series. Specifically, Lecture 24, in which Schelling gives his final word on the state and the monarchy, was written based on fragments but also on conversations that K.F.A. and his brother Hermann had had with their father.

Author Biography

Kyla Bruff, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Kyla Bruff is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Philosophy at Memorial University. Her work primarily investigates the metaphysical commitments of political positions, and the relevance of classical German philosophy for politics today. She is also a feminist and frequently lends a critical voice to political and ecological issues—especially those facing Newfoundland and Labrador.

Kyla speaks and works in English, French and German. Many of her publications trace the interactions and resonances between 19th and 20th century German and French philosophy. She is the Managing Editor of Kabiri, the Treasurer of the North American Schelling Society, and the Co-Director of For A New Earth.

 

Her doctoral dissertation explores what classical German philosophy, specifically the work F.W.J. Schelling and Theodor W.Adorno, could have to offer to contemporary critiques of populism and the defence of liberal democracy. It is supervised by Professor Sean J. McGrath.

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Published

2020-12-20

Issue

Vol. 2 (2020)

Section

New Translation