scholarly journals THE SYMBOLISM OF THE VISUAL IMAGE IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTIONS OF E. CASSIRER AND C. LANGER: THE CULTURAL CONTEXT

2017 ◽  
pp. 52-55
Author(s):  
S. P. Stoian
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Continuous Production ◽  
Visual Image ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Human Existence ◽  
Human Culture ◽  
Symbolic Forms ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Symbolic Reality ◽  
Philosophy Of Symbolic Forms

It’s mentioned that the European atmosphere of increased interest in the problems of symbol and symbolism in the cultural space, giving rise in the second half of the XIX century to the registration of symbolism in art direction also contributes to a number of philosophical studies to the rethinking of the functioning of the cultural sphere, as well asthe whole of human existence from the standpoint of symbolism.A powerful concept that gives us an understanding of the global symbolic basis of culture is the theory of E. Cassirer, which he outlines in his work "The Philosophy of symbolic forms", expanding these issues infurther series of works collected under the title "An Essay on Man". Cassirer’s views are one of the main methodological foundations in our research, because the human culture has deeply symbolic character and consists of various symbolic forms, among which art takes a special place. Culture is not something predetermined; it is created by a person who is gradually separated from the natural world precisely because of its ability for continuous production of symbols. Along with the myth Cassirer distinguished such symbolic forms as language, art, science, through which the essential components of the symbolic reality of man are also produced. In work "Philosophy of Symbolic Forms", the art is mentioned in the context of consideration of the specificity of these symbolic realms and researcher focuses on myth, language and the problem of scientific knowledge. The philosopher indicates the communicative function of art, which becomes extremely important in the twentieth century in the context of the active involvement of the viewer in the process of co-creation. One of the main characteristics of symbolism about art that it distinguishes the concept from the previous Cassirer's symbolic concepts, particularly medieval, in his opinion, that art is really symbolic, but the symbolism of art should be understood not in transcendental but immanent sense. S. Langer in "Philosophy in a new key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite, and Art", continuing the Cassirer's line on the recognition of the symbolic nature of human existence and the view of man as the "symbolic animal", along with an analysis of the symbolism oflanguage, which it defines as discursive, consider the symbolism of visual forms, which he calls presentations, or rediscussion, referring to him the sphere of art. Analyzed concepts demonstrate strong scientific interest to the question of symbolism in human culture, and emphasize the relevance of treatment to this issue.

Morphologie und Humanismus oder: wie man zur Katze wird

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-62
Author(s):  
Thomas Reinhardt
Keyword(s):  
Natural World ◽  
Specific Form ◽  
Symbolic Forms ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
The World ◽  
Specific Interpretation ◽  
Ontological Turn ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Philosophy Of Symbolic Forms

Though the relationship between Goethe, Cassirer and Levi-Strauss has been explored extensively, the focus usually lies on questions of genealogy. This article aims for a different course: Building on the notable similarities between Goethe’s discussion of morphology, Levi-Strauss’ structuralistic approach and Cassirer’s philosophy of symbolic forms we will investigate the epistemological similarities between the three authors. They can be found in a specific form of humanism (or anti-humanism) which connects questions on the conditions of the world and its accessibility with the more global question of humankind and its place within the natural world, thus, by virtue of a specific interpretation of the concept of transformation, opening the door for new approaches which have recently been discussed as ontological turn

scholarly journals Reflections on social and religious pluralism based on the philosophy of Ernst Cassirer

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 338-358
Author(s):  
Drazen Volk
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Central Section ◽  
Ernst Cassirer ◽  
Symbolic Forms ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Philosophy Of Symbolic Forms

The analysis of possibilities of dialogue as the prerequisite for social and religious pluralism based on Ernst Cassirer?s philosophy of symbolic forms is the main theme of this article. In the central section, the basic elements of the philosophy of symbolic forms are briefly introduced and are followed by a portrayal of the relationship between consciousness, symbolic forms and freedom. The essay then focuses on Cassirer?s general premises for his analysis of myth and also his description of the techniques of modern political myths. These elements of Cassirer?s philosophy are put forth so as to demonstrate the relevancy of his thought with regard to the issue of dialogue and pluralism, and also to indicate the applicability of his analysis concerning the presence of mythical consciousness in modern societies, including also the societies on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The conclusion endeavors to gather the wealth of Cassirer?s analyses and to apply these in a condensed manner to an analysis of the situation in the regions indicated and also to point out directions to be taken in the search for possible solutions.

scholarly journals Managing individuality: myths versus art

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
Hanne Nørreklit
Keyword(s):  
Basic Function ◽  
Human Existence ◽  
Art And Science ◽  
Symbolic Form ◽  
Symbolic Forms ◽  
Management Models ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Management Discourse ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Insight Into

The purpose of this article is to establish the symbolic forms that are presently used in selected mainstream management models and to assess whether the connection between leadership and individual human reality would be improved if the management models were fundamentally inspired by those used by a successful manager and artist.The theoretical starting point of this article is Cassirer’s (Cassirer 1999) philosophy of symbolic forms. A symbolic form is “a way of having a life world” (own translation) (Cassirer 1999). In a symbolic form, a person discovers and unfolds an ability to build his own universe as an ideal universe which enables the person to “understand and interpret, to articulate and organize, synthesize and universalize his human experience” (Cassirer 1962: 221). Symbolic forms such as art, science, myth and religion thus have common features and structures in their basic function of creating common human existence. When the symbolic form is science, ideals of objectivity and precision in the description of phenomena and their relations dominate man’s formation of his universe. In art, man unfolds an ability to be subjective and create empathetic insight into matters and their diversity (Cassirer 1962). Where science as symbolic form conceptualizes objects, art teaches us empathetic insight. The symbolic forms of art and science perceive a phenomenon differently. For example, science will perhaps see a constellation as a trigonometric function, whereas it may be considered by art as a “Hogarthian shape of beauty” (own translation) (Cassirer 1999: 62). Like the symbolic form of art, the symbolic form of myth builds on emotional sympathy, but differs by believing in the existence of the constellation. It is used to create a natural or magical unity of life. Monotheistic religions also include ideas of striving for a sense of unity, but here the idea is to achieve a universal, ethical sense of unity in an individualized society. Thus the symbolic form of religion helps the individual to choose between right and wrong.With this in mind, we examine the use of symbolic forms embedded in selected mainstream management models. Subsequently, we study the symbolic forms embedded in the management discourse as the concept is unfolded by the successful Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Opera, Kasper Holten, when he talks about management, with a view to determining the extent to which this practice differs from the symbolic forms embedded in the mainstream management models. The analysis shows that mainstream management models are primarily rooted in the symbolic form of science, although they tend to gradually include the symbolic form of religion or the symbolic form of myth. Generally speaking, the mainstream management models tend to exercise power over the individual’s emphatic insight and autonomous reflection and thereby constrain the scope for human creativity and individuality. Distinctively, Kasper Holten’s management discourse integrates the symbolic forms of art and science. With art as the dominant symbolic form, Kasper rejects new public management’s perception about opera and the management of art while at the same time – through discourses that bind to the individuality of the network of players – forming personal and social identities which come together to realize a world of existential ideas about operas in general as well as opera in particular.The article is relevant because it provides insight into the ways in which management models, through the use of myth and science as symbolic forms, exercise influence on human existence and interaction and thereby influence the scope for human freedom and exercise of power and also because it provides insight into the features and structures concerning human existence and co-existence from which mainstream management models cut themselves off by not using art as a form of consciousness. The constructive aspect is a parallel outline of features and structures in a new management discourse which are better suited for postmodern society.

Kulturphilosophie in Weimar Modernism

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Michael Krois
Keyword(s):  
Conservative Approach ◽  
Georg Simmel ◽  
Ernst Cassirer ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Symbolic Forms ◽  
Philosophy Of Culture ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
New Thinking ◽  
Scientific Phenomena ◽  
Philosophy Of Symbolic Forms

The Weimar Republic was one of the most fertile epochs in German philosophy, and its effects are still being felt today. The call for “new thinking” was shared by otherwise disparate approaches. The phenomenologists sought to find the “beginnings” of knowing in pre-scientific phenomena, while thinkers at the forefront of what would later be known as analytic philosophy found a new approach to philosophy in the analysis of language. A third approach took its starting point from the fact of culture and sought to find a new orientation for philosophy in the study of the historical world. This movement, known as “Kulturphilosophie” (the philosophy of culture), was often regarded as a more conservative approach to philosophy. This chapter highlights the characteristics of Kulturphilosophie. The discipline was pioneered by the sociologist Georg Simmel and perfected by the philosopher Ernst Cassirer especially in his monumental, three-volume masterpiece, The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms.

Faith and Culture

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Ezimakor
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Everyday Experience ◽  
Human Culture ◽  
Cultural Life

How do faith and culture interact? Using the example of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, Jude Ezimakor explains their interplay and shows how the Christian faith can connect with human culture to give an authentic testimony of faith in concrete everyday experience. In particular, he explores the question of who Jesus Christ is for a particular community of believers and what meaning he can convey in their contemporary lives and their particular cultural life situations. In this way, Christology begins to merge Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis with the question: How does faith come alive in a particular social-cultural context in order to develop it?

The power of rituals: Mendelssohn and Cassirer on the religious dimension of Bildung

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-464
Author(s):  
ANNE POLLOK
Keyword(s):  
Symbolic Forms ◽  
Religious Dimension ◽  
The One ◽  
Self Formation ◽  
Philosophy Of Symbolic Forms

AbstractThis article discusses the ceremonial laws in Judaism as a language of religion and assesses their role within human self-formation (Bildung). Moses Mendelssohn's groundbreaking account on the function of ritual offers both a solution and a threat to this issue: on the one hand the capacity to perform and understand rituals can be seen as a form of self-liberation. At the same time, the general openness to interpretation makes this conception vulnerable to the destructive force of idolatry. With the aid of Ernst Cassirer's Philosophy of Symbolic Forms, this article offers a solution to this problem by showing how ritual functions as a dialogue between the members of a community; a dialogue that carries a distinctively ethical outreach.

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