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Work #438 · Mid

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

Ernst Cassirer
1923-29 (Vol I 1923, II 1925, III 1929) · German
Neo-Kantian philosophy of culture · Marburg Neo-Kantianism

Cassirer's three-volume neo-Kantian philosophy of symbolic forms (1923-29)

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

The historical-cultural time of symbolic forms.

Space

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

The cultural-symbolic space mediated by forms.

Matter

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

The material reality mediated through symbolic forms.

Observer

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

The animal symbolicum.

Energy

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

Energies of symbolic-mediating activity.

Information

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

Three-volume framework of symbolic forms (language, myth-religion, science).

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

Cassirer's Neo-Kantian synthesis eclipsed by the existential turn (Heidegger, Davos 1929 debate).