SCHELLING, FRIEDRICH WILHELM JOSEPH, German philosopher, born in Wuertemberg; studied at Tuebingen, where he became acquainted with Hegel; wrote first on theological subjects and then on philosophical; went to Jena and became a disciple and follower of Fichte; gradually abandoned Fichte’s position and began to develop ideas of his own, and in conjunction with Hegel edited the Critical Journal of Philosophy; held afterwards a professorship at Muenich and a lectureship at Berlin; his philosophy is no finished or completed system, but is essentially a history of the progressive stages through which he himself passed; during the reign of Hegel he kept silence, and only broke it when Hegel was dead; thought to outstrip him by another philosophy, but the attempt has proved fruitless of any important results (1775-1854).
SCHEMNITZ (15), a town of Hungary, noted as a mining centre since Roman times, situated in the midst of a mountainous region, 65 m. N. by W. of Pesth; gold, silver, copper, and lead are largely wrought, chiefly in the interests of the State.
SCHENKEL, DAVID, German theologian, born in Switzerland, became, after a pastorate at Schaffhausen, professor first at Basel and then at Heidelberg; was a man of liberal principles, and was zealous for the union of the Protestants, Lutheran and Reformed, in one body on a broad basis; is noted as author of a work entitled “Das Characterbild Jesu,” being an attempt to construe the character of Christ on rationalistic lines (1813-1885).
SCHERER, EDMOND, French critic, born in Paris, spent his early years in England, his mother being English; was for some time devoted to theology and the Church, but changed his views; settled in Paris, and took to journalism and politics, distinguishing himself more especially in literary criticism (1815-1889).
SCHILLER, FRIEDRICH, German poet and dramatist, born at Marbach on the Neckar, son of an army-surgeon; bred first to law and then to medicine, but took chief interest in philosophy and literature, to the cultivation of which he by-and-by devoted his life; his first work, a play, “The Robbers,” which on its publication in 1782 produced quite a ferment, and was followed in 1783 by two tragedies, “Fresco” and “Kabale und Liebe”; but it was with “Don Carlos” in 1787 his mature authorship began, and this was followed by the “History of the Netherlands” and “History of the Thirty Years’ War,” to be succeeded by “Wallenstein” (1799), “Maria Stuart” (1800), “The Maid of Orleans” (1801), “The Bride of Messina” (1803), and “Wilhelm Tell” (1804); he Wrote besides a number of ballads and lyrics; in 1794 his friendship with Goethe began, and it was a friendship which was grounded on their common love for art, and lasted with life; he was an earnest man and a serious writer, and much beloved by the great Goethe (1759-1805). See CARLYLE’S “LIFE OF SCHILLER,” and his essay on him in his “MISCELLANIES.”