“Philosophy Always Begins in the Middle”: Friedrich Schlegel’s Anti-Foundationalist Philosophy

Turkish

Schlegel's philosophical thought is characterized by opposition to the thought of Fichte.Schlegel constructs an anti-foundationalist philosophy against Fichte's foundationalist philosophy which claims to reach inevitable conclusions from a first principle.He develops a conception of philosophy that has no definite starting point and no absolute first principle.In this approach, each principle supports and validates the others.Much like poetry, philosophy starts from the middle.Schlegel argues that the principles are not one but many and that they mutually establish themselves in interaction.He emphasizes that everything, including all principles, is in a constant state of change and transformation.This highlights the awareness of the impossibility of ultimately reaching the Absolute.The Absolute will shape all our efforts, even though it will never be attainable.Nevertheless, the effort to reach the Absolute will not be abandoned and philosophy, which acquires a literary/poetic character, will become the center of this effort.Schlegel's use of literary forms can thus be seen as a challenge.Aiming to erode the ways of philosophizing of his contemporaries, notably Fichte, Schlegel intends to establish a philosophy that gives life the respect it deserves.This new kind of philosophy will not remain a purely intellectual activity, but will be the central element in the effort to transform life and restore its lost enchantment.