unit 31- 1 The oldest systematic program of German idealism

Описание: The problem of authorship of “the oldest systematic program of German Idealism”

There are three position about the authorship of “the oldest systematic program of German Idealism”.

Firstly, Rosenzweig, the first publisher of the document, ascribed it to Schelling because some of its contents are similar to those of Schelling’s publication “The system of transcendental idealism 1799”.

Secondly E. Cassirer ascribed the authorship of the document to Hölderlin: Hölderlin and this document have something in common : the aestheticism. The idea of beauty was regarded as the unity of theory and praxis, philosophy and mythology, folks-religion and priests-religion.

Mature Hölderlin’s thought is characterized by “poetical pantheism”, which is expressed in Hölderlin’s novel “Hyperion or the Hermit in Greece”. Hölderlin emphasizes the beauty. On the fundament of beauty Hölderlin synthesizes the nature, the mythos and the religion.

The aestheticism which appears in the last half of “the oldest systematic program of German Idealism” is analogous to “Athenian Discourse” in “Hyperion”.

Thirdly there is a position that regards the author of this document as Hegel, who selbst recorded the document. This position is represented by Otto Pöggler.

To speak in advance my (Dr.Ahn) thought is that this document was not conceived by one person but by two, i.e. Schelling and Hölderlin. Namely the document belongs to both of them. Further Hegel wrote down the thoughts of his two friends. In the following representation Schelling’s part will be marked ① and Hölderlin’s part will be marked ②.