Research On Schelling's Thought Of Freedom

Throughout Schelling's entire philosophical career,he explicitly declared that freedom must be as the basis of the construction of philosophy as early as 1795.It is clear that,from the beginning,freedom is a core concept of his philosophy.However,his focus on the object of freedom varies in Schelling's different periods,the concept of freedom of the book in 1809,On the Essence of Human Freedom and Related Objects(hereinafter referred to as the Freedom Essay),plays an important role in the construction of his philosophical system,which inherits his previous philosophy and opens the door of his late philosophy.As this title suggests,Schelling mainly tries to clarify the essence of human freedom,especially the concept of evil linked to human freedom.Since Schelling emphasizes that freedom must be considered within the system,it is necessary to reexamine the relationship between freedom and the system,that is,how freedom is expressed within the system.In the research findings of the concept of freedom in 1809,generally speaking,Schelling's concept of freedom is quite considerately discussed.Heidegger 's important metaphysical assertions of evil have been refuted by Schelling's researchers,which indicates that Schelling 's concentration on evil is not established by the 1809 text rather than implied his philosophy in some way from the beginning.However,at present,the discussion of Schelling's concept of freedom is still influenced by Heidegger's interpretation.With the increase in Schelling's Chinses translations,the existing works such as Philosophy and Religion,and Private Lectures in Stuttgart related to this 1809's book,as well as foreign research literature,help us reconstruct his own freedom thought in Schelling's standpoint.It is usually believed that what a person has as an individual of experience is the limited freedom in the latter sense.And complete self-determination is impossible in the world of experience.Although the man has only limited freedom,it is a capacity for self-selection after all,which implies that man can choose either good or evil that depends on his free character.If a philosopher only studies the issue of freedom from the fact of human choice,then it means that they have not touched on the essence of freedom.That is why people have the ability to choose themselves? Why do people make evil choices? Why do we have limited self-determination? Why don't we have complete self-determination?There are many philosophers investigating freedom,but in Schelling's view,none of them has truly involved in this essence of freedom.The concept of the essence in Freedom Essay points out the substantial kernel of freedom.In other words,Schelling is not concerned with the facts and behaviors of freedom instead of something behind them with a rationalistic view of freedom,that is what the essence of freedom as freedom? Schelling believes that there is transcendental freedom for humans besides the limited side,which the former represents the essence of man.However,this transcendental freedom is only possible when it is placed in the circle of absolute freedom.Thus,Schelling reconstructs the reality of the individual within God under the pantheistic system.Only when the individual soul exists in God in an independent way can freedom be truly expressed.The ability of evil as freedom is the real and positive existence of a finite individual within God.The reality of evil is such positive power that it is an ability of the reason to violate itself.2 However,human's real freedom is the inclination of goodness rather than the evil aspect,that is,we should understand God's sacredness which represents a real and live aspect of human freedom.Since freedom as a core concept of Schelling's philosophy,it is necessary to review this important work praised as a turning point in Schelling's philosophical career and to further understand what is the true meaning when Schelling says all philosophy is based on freedom.Meanwhile,the exposition of freedom thought in 1809 can help us reunderstand the essence of freedom and the construction of a philosophical system that is closely connected with it,and it can also help us reset the important role of freedom in Schelling's philosophy.