How did Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling’s later ideas influence existential philosophy?

Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling’s later philosophy significantly influenced the development of existential philosophy by challenging the dominance of absolute reason, which was central to the Hegelian system.1

His later work is now recognized for its critical examination of G.W.F. Hegel’s philosophy, specifically through his insight that human existence is defined not only by reason but also by dark, irrational natural impulses. By emphasizing these profound aspects of human reality, Schelling provided a framework that countered the panlogistic resolutions of Hegelianism.12

This shift in thought resonated with Søren Kierkegaard, who attended Schelling’s lectures in Berlin. Kierkegaard, often considered a founding father of existentialism, adopted a similar stance by arguing that the individual’s condition as an existing being is irreducible to universal logical systems. Schelling’s focus on the reality of human experience and his departure from purely rationalist explanations helped pave the way for existentialist thinkers to prioritize the individual's subjective struggle and the paradoxical nature of existence over abstract, speculative philosophy.231