Edition of Schellings theological writings from his youth

Within the scope of this project extensive sources of texts are to be opened up for the research, which are very interesting for both: the genesis of the German idealism on the background of the theological discussions in the late Age of Enlightenment and the history of theology and science. For the first time sources of texts of teaching and theory at a German university in the end of the 18th century will be available.

This research project `Edition of the theological writings of the young F.W.J. Schelling` has worked on Schelling`s studies-booklets number 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34 from his years of study at the University of Tübingen (1790-1795), which are owned at the Berlin Schelling estate in the archive of the Academy of Science of Berlin- Brandenburg, and has prepared three volumes for going to press in the historic-critical edition of Schelling`s works. Therefore the texts have been transliterated, edited according to the elaborated editorially principles and annotated with commentarial remarks as well as editorial accounts. These texts of the last decade of the 18th century provide the research for the first time sources of texts, which are edited in a historically and critically way and have a multiple importance. Schelling`s postscripts of lectures, his own notices and drafts on the one hand document, that the development of the German Idealism is closely associated with the complex theological debates in the late period of enlightenment. This offers new perspectives for the research of idealism as well as enlightenment. On the other hand they point, how complex the theological and philosophical discussions also at such a conservative theological faculty like Tübingen were. Finally, extensive materials of education and academic teachings at a German-speaking university in the end of the 18th century have been made available for the research.