Freedom and Ground

"Mark J. Thomas's surgically precise and illuminating exegesis of Schelling's famed 1809 Freedom essay is not strictly speaking a commentary, but rather a recreation and amplification of what he considers the essay's central and organizing concern ... Thomas and his careful reorganization of the text, including his granular navigation of Schelling's problematic within the troubled waters of the history of the problem of ground, clearly and forcefully demonstrates that Schelling's treatise is undeniably a radical and seminal reconsideration of the problem of ground." - Research in Phenomenology

"In this extraordinary book, Mark Thomas takes the question of ground as central to Schelling's philosophy, especially to his famous treatise on human freedom. Thomas shows how the theme of ground provides a means by which to understand such concepts as freedom, reason, existence, and evil. The book displays exemplary precision as well as original and profound insights into Schelling's thought. Thomas explains in detail the way in which all of Schelling's writings come together in his project of a system of freedom. Finally, Thomas shows how Schelling's concept of ground represents a challenge to classical metaphysics and both anticipation and critique of several major issues in contemporary philosophy. Thomas's book is-and will no doubt remain-a landmark in the interpretation of Schelling's philosophy." - John Sallis, Boston College

"With this thoroughly researched and carefully argued book, Mark Thomas sets a new standard for rigor in Schelling studies. I anticipate that within the next few years everyone doing serious work on the Freedom Essay will be expected to read and comment on this book." - Christopher Lauer, author of The Suspension of Reason in Hegel and Schelling