On the Deities of Samothrace

Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling (1775–1854) was an influential German philosopher. A student of Fichte and a contemporary of Hegel, Schelling's work was instrumental in the development of German idealism.Alexander Bilda studied philosophy, ancient history, and historical anthropology in Freiburg and Paris. He is editor (with A.-L. Müller Bergen and P. Schwab) of the Erlangen Lectures in the historical-critical edition of Schelling's works. His articles include studies on Kant, Fichte, Hegel, Schelling, and Merleau-Ponty. He currently works as a permanent academic staff member at the University of Freiburg. Jason M. Wirth is Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University. His recent books include Nietzsche and Other Buddhas: Philosophy after Comparative Philosophy and Mountains, Rivers, and the Great Earth: Reading Gary Snyder and Dōgen in an Age of Ecological Crisis. David Farrell Krell is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University, Chicago, and Brauer Distinguished Visiting Professor of German Studies at Brown University. His scholarly books include Three Encounters: Heidegger, Arendt, Derrida; The Sea: A Philosophical Encounter; The Cudgel and the Caress: Reflections on Cruelty and Tenderness; and The Tragic Absolute: German Idealism and the Languishing of God.Alexander Bilda studied philosophy, ancient history, and historical anthropology in Freiburg and Paris. He is editor (with A.-L. Müller Bergen and P. Schwab) of the Erlangen Lectures in the historical-critical edition of Schelling's works. His articles include studies on Kant, Fichte, Hegel, Schelling, and Merleau-Ponty. He currently works as a permanent academic staff member at the University of Freiburg. Jason M. Wirth is Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University. His recent books include Nietzsche and Other Buddhas: Philosophy after Comparative Philosophy and Mountains, Rivers, and the Great Earth: Reading Gary Snyder and Dōgen in an Age of Ecological Crisis. David Farrell Krell is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University, Chicago, and Brauer Distinguished Visiting Professor of German Studies at Brown University. His scholarly books include Three Encounters: Heidegger, Arendt, Derrida; The Sea: A Philosophical Encounter; The Cudgel and the Caress: Reflections on Cruelty and Tenderness; and The Tragic Absolute: German Idealism and the Languishing of God.

"An excellent translation of a challenging but important text. The notes are extremely helpful for the reader in navigating Schelling's extensive (and often obscure) references in multiple languages. The commentary clearly reflects extensive research and is a substantial contribution to Schelling scholarship. Finally, the essays provide useful historical background and provocative commentary that help the reader interpret the text philosophically. Without question, an impressive achievement."—Mark J. Thomas, author of Freedom and Ground: A Study of Schelling's Treatise on Freedom

• Translators' PrefaceAcknowledgmentsGeneral IntroductionPart One: F. W. J. Schelling, On the Deities of Samothrace1. Schelling's Lecture, Endnotes, and Afterword2. Explanatory Notes on Schelling's Lecture3. Explanatory Notes on Schelling's EndnotesPart Two: Three Essays on Schelling's Deities of Samothrace4. Schelling archaeologicus, by David Farrell Krell5. The Importance of Schelling's Deities of Samothrace for His Own Work and for His Contemporaries, by Alexander Bilda6. The Advent of the Return of the Cabiri, by Jason M. WirthNotesIndex