Schelling, or from the Abyss of Ethics

Abstract

In this chapter we propose a close comparative reading of Schelling and the Vedas, more precisely, the Creation hymn from the Ṛgveda. In this analysis, we seek for the first opening of the World of two-ness, or, first constellation of a between-us. We show that for Schelling, breath (der Hauch) is the first name of love. For this purpose, we analyze the way how Schelling tackles the body-mind question and relegates both parts of this dichotomy to the more original constellation and emanation of the most gentle corporeality/sensibility from the origins of the world. We show that with this gesture Schelling moves towards the nascence of being and secures the place where the first mesocosmic gesture of the between-two can be born: breath as the atmosphere of being.