Jeremy Proulx

H.B.A. Philosophy/Classical Studies, Trent University (2002); M.A. Theory, Centre for the Study of Theory and Criticism at the University of Western Ontario (2004); Currently working on a Ph.D. at the Tri-University Philosophy Programme at McMaster University (Completion date: 2010).

My project has three parts, all of which revolve around F.W.J. Schelling’s conception of freedom. The first part is historical, and involves isolating the role that figure of Spinoza played in convincing thinkers like Schelling that Kantian transcendental idealism could not support the central role played by freedom both in the practical realm of human action and in the theoretical realm of nature. The second part aims to articulate Schelling’s idea that there are no fixed metaphysical domains for the respective realms of freedom and nature, or between human moral practice and natural necessity. The third part of my project seeks to show how Schelling’s conception of freedom is relevant to contemporary philosophical problems. I defend the idea that by blurring the traditional line between the realm of ‘natural necessity’ and the realm of human freedom, emerging technologies present new domains for human moral practice.