Realism and Idealism in Schelling. On the Metaphysical Foundations of Panentheism

Abstract

When discussing panentheistic models in Gott jenseits von Gott, Klaus Müller frequently refers to Schelling. My article tries to show why this reference is justified, focussing mainly on the treatise Of Human Freedom. Here, Schelling defends Spinozaʼs pantheism as a version of panentheism – without already using this term –, while at the same time transforming it with an emphasis on spirit and freedom, since he believes that realism and idealism belong together. According to his conception, only human beings are truly in God, because only they are also spiritual or rational beings, while other natural beings are only in Godʼs underlying nature or ground. I compare this conception to the Würzburg System of Philosophy where Schelling still argues for another position regarding freedom.