Standard histories of philosophy make him the midpoint in the development of German idealism , situating him between Johann Gottlieb Fichte , his mentor in his early years, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel , his one-time university roommate, early friend, and later rival.
Interpreting Schelling's philosophy is regarded as difficult because of its evolving nature. Schelling's thought in the main has been neglected, especially in the English-speaking world. An important factor in this was the ascendancy of Hegel, whose mature works portray Schelling as a mere footnote in the development of idealism. Schelling's Naturphilosophie also has been attacked by scientists for its tendency to analogize and lack of empirical orientation. Schelling studied the Church fathers and ancient Greek philosophers.
His interest gradually shifted from Lutheran theology to philosophy. In , he graduated with his master's thesis , titled Antiquissimi de prima malorum humanorum origine philosophematis Genes.
Meanwhile, he had begun to study Kant and Fichte , who influenced him greatly. In , while tutoring two youths of an aristocratic family, he visited Leipzig as their escort and had a chance to attend lectures at Leipzig University , where he was fascinated by contemporary physical studies including chemistry and biology.
He also visited Dresden , where he saw collections of the Elector of Saxony , to which he referred later in his thinking on art. After two years tutoring, in October , at the age of 23, Schelling was called to University of Jena as an extraordinary professor of philosophy.
