Karl Rahner, Friedrich Schelling, and Original Plural Unity

Abstract

Despite the common perception that Rahner’s affinity with German Idealism places him near either Kant or Hegel, his thought accords better with that of Friedrich Schelling, whom he studied under Heidegger. The author examines this historical point, and then reads several of Rahner’s works to identify systematic resonances with Schelling. The article argues that the thought of Rahner and Schelling are well paired because both insist that at the origin of reality lies a plural unity. This Rahner–Schelling commonality regarding metaphysical pluralism could contribute to a theological aesthetic centered on freedom.