Philosophy in a New Key a Study in the Symbolism of Reason Rite and Art

• Dwelling house
• My Books

Open Preview

Meet a Problem?

We'd love your help. Let us know what'due south wrong with this preview of Philosophy in a New Key by Susanne G. Langer.

Thanks for telling us near the problem.

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, delight sign up.

Customs Reviews

 · 236 ratings  · 18 reviews

Start your review of Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite, and Art

April x, 2008 Bob rated it really liked it

It's taking me a while to get through this one, and I find myself re-reading parts of it before going on. I'm taken with Langer'south claim that what sets humans apart from animals is non our ability to perceive, call back, associate, and think, but our ability to symbolize. I like her distinction between signs and symbols. For case, animals recognize the word "treat" as signaling that they will shortly exist fed a care for. An beast does not know that "treat" represents something which can be used in a Information technology's taking me a while to become through this 1, and I find myself re-reading parts of information technology before going on. I'm taken with Langer's merits that what sets humans autonomously from animals is not our ability to perceive, call back, associate, and retrieve, but our power to symbolize. I like her distinction between signs and symbols. For instance, animals recognize the word "treat" as signaling that they will before long be fed a care for. An fauna does not know that "treat" represents something which tin can exist used in a sentence to refer to a treat in the past or the far time to come.

Langer wrote this volume long ago, and some of it may be undercut by the latest language research with dolphins and apes, only it is still fascinating. I like how she says that humans volition perform the same fruitless religious rituals for thousands of years, even though they don't reliably work (eastward.g. rain dancing, human sacrifices, etc.) which a true cat or a rat would never persist in. She comments on the claim that symbolizing has a practical genetic advantage. She says the merits is undercut by the crazy symbolizing we do in dreams, when, if it were only practical, we wouldn't do it when we're trying to rest. So she sees our symbolizing as compulsion and not as intention. Again, arguable, since solutions to practical bug have come in dreams (e.k. the concept of the double helix for DNA.)

About a hundred pages into the volume, and and then far she's full-bodied on the difference betwixt signs and sumbols, and the departure betwixt discursive and presentational forms. She takes issue with those who approximate intuition equally a grade of irrational mysticism. She lays merits that intuition is based on the course-making abilities of our senses, so that it is a form of presentational thinking, thought earlier discursive thinking. And how tin thought non be discursive? Considering symbols are not the result of thought, but the very substance of thought. And symbols tin exist presentational (non-exact, not-sequential, but taken in as one Gestalt.)

She quotes Wittgenstein-- "Everything that tin be said can exist said clearly." I wish more poets would recollect along those lines. It gets tiresome with some poets e'er having to play the "what did they really hateful?" game. Sometimes, to me, information technology seems that mediocrity hides behind a pseudo-sophisticated obscurity. Non that I'm not guilty of information technology sometimes myself.

222 pages into the volume. I'm enjoying the chapter On Significance in Music more than than any other and then far, as it covers what makes an expression creative (e.g. why is a Greek vase art and a water bucket just craft?) Langer supports the idea that the distinction is Significant Form. She italicizes this sentence: Sheer cocky-expression requires no creative course. And she claims that art does non limited and so much as information technology represents. Then, when music evokes an emotion, it may not exist because the composer wanted to express an emotion felt at the fourth dimension it was composed, just to represent in a universal manner an emotion the composer was familiar with at some time, maybe years before.

...more

As the book description mentions, Langer'due south work is about a theory of all arts, not but music. What Langer has to say about discursive communication vs. symbolic transformation is heady. I dear how Langer explains that nosotros humans are conceptual thinkers and that we comprehend and reason non only through logic and discourse but as well through experience and emotion. She calls an emotional, sensory, and moving experience something that derives "artistic meaning." Conceptual thinking begins with se As the volume description mentions, Langer's piece of work is near a theory of all arts, non just music. What Langer has to say about discursive communication vs. symbolic transformation is heady. I dearest how Langer explains that we humans are conceptual thinkers and that we encompass and reason not only through logic and discourse only too through experience and emotion. She calls an emotional, sensory, and moving experience something that derives "artistic meaning." Conceptual thinking begins with sense perception. Langer begins her last chapter in Philosophy in a New Key with this: "All thinking begins with seeing; non necessarily through the eye, but with some basic formulations of sense perception." I dearest what Langer has to say about sensuous analysis and this volume would be an interesting philosophical companion to David Abram'south The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Homo Globe. While not totally related, I establish myself thinking about both pieces a lot (and too interesting to annotation, one (Langer) explores music, and one (Abram) seems to accept somewhat of an emphasis on language). ...more than

"Fault is the price we pay for progress." This is a quote from Alfred North Whitehead that humbly concludes this book, which has Whitehead equally its dedicatee.

This work is in two, wide parts. The showtime, greater office distinguishes between signal/sign and symbol. My true cat knows its proper noun equally a sign for attending from its owner. I can now "Albert Einstein" as a symbol for someone I have never even met or seen and all that that entails.

Hinted at by some music notation examples, the 2nd part courageou

"Fault is the toll we pay for progress." This is a quote from Alfred Due north Whitehead that humbly concludes this volume, which has Whitehead as its dedicatee.

This piece of work is in ii, broad parts. The first, greater part distinguishes between signal/sign and symbol. My cat knows its name as a sign for attention from its owner. I can now "Albert Einstein" as a symbol for someone I take never fifty-fifty met or seen and all that that entails.

Hinted at by some music annotation examples, the second office courageously attempts to ascertain art and settles on music as the case to build on. Fine art is expression: the ship a symbol makes but without untethered to a linguistic communication.

This work will appeal to students of philosophy, philologists, and aestheticians.

...more

Nov 11, 2015 Jon Frankel rated information technology information technology was amazing

This is one of the few books well-nigh aesthetics by a philosopher I plant readable. It's amazing that it was written by a logician, an analytic philosopher. Written in 1941, it has some language that is outmoded and offensive today, but please, allow it become and read for her master ideas. Langer, rather than dismissing fine art, ritual and myth as either childish relics of humanity'due south 'archaic' mind or bizarre and useless delusions, sees them as expressions of fundamental human noesis, which is by mode of This is one of the few books about aesthetics by a philosopher I establish readable. It's amazing that information technology was written by a logician, an analytic philosopher. Written in 1941, information technology has some language that is outmoded and offensive today, but please, let information technology get and read for her master ideas. Langer, rather than dismissing art, ritual and myth as either kittenish relics of humanity'due south 'primitive' mind or baroque and useless delusions, sees them equally expressions of fundamental man noesis, which is past mode of symbols. Much of the work in this book was covered subsequently, but information technology was groundbreaking in 1941 and even today stands in stark contrast to thinkers similar Daniel Dennet, or postmodernist disquisitional theory. the book is distinguished non just by its insights into homo beingness, just by its vivid way: circuitous, poetic, and totally articulate., I never struggled with the language, only with the ideas. She was a student of Whitehead'south, then i would expect no less, but information technology is notwithstanding refreshing after wading through obscure, horrifically written books about art. She went on to write the much longer Feeling and Form, which develoips, refines and extends the ideas in Philosophy in a New Key, and then, a 3 book work (I don't retrieve the title) that expands even further. I will certainly read Feeling and Form, but the 3 volume piece of work will have to wait behind Proust, Boswell, Musil and Gibbon. Well, it'south good visitor she will continue! ...more

Susanne Langer pursues a creative philosophy that emphasizes artistic observation that we can merely hope to emulate.

"The hugger-mugger of fusion is the fact that the artist's heart sees in nature... an inexhaustible wealth of tension, rhythms, continuities, and contrasts which can be rendered in line and color." Susanne Langer

Hither is my full review: https://bookoblivion.com/2019/10/xiv/s...

Susanne Langer pursues a artistic philosophy that emphasizes artistic observation that we can only hope to emulate.

"The surreptitious of fusion is the fact that the artist's eye sees in nature... an inexhaustible wealth of tension, rhythms, continuities, and contrasts which can be rendered in line and color." Susanne Langer

Here is my full review: https://bookoblivion.com/2019/10/14/s...

...more than

One of the things that frustrated me in this very sage book was Susanne Langer's equanimity. The composition of this volume was conducted in the years leading upwards to America's entry in the second World War; equally a scholar with numerous ties to Europe and, in particular, Deutschland, Langer was aware of the populist uprising in Germany and the invocation of its leader to a powerful new myth of its race's superiority and destiny of triumph. The underlying provocation for this book is that swelling repudiat One of the things that frustrated me in this very sage book was Susanne Langer's equanimity. The limerick of this book was conducted in the years leading upwardly to America's entry in the second Earth State of war; every bit a scholar with numerous ties to Europe and, in particular, Frg, Langer was aware of the populist uprising in Germany and the invocation of its leader to a powerful new myth of its race's superiority and destiny of triumph. The underlying provocation for this book is that swelling repudiation of logical/empirical thinking and its replacement with a mythos of swaggering exceptionalism that was already sending Deutschland's intellectual elite into crunch and flying. Of course, it'southward not Langer'due south purpose to become a Cassandra of alarmism, trying to counter irrational populism with a polemic that relies on the melancholia suasion of rhetoric. Instead, using the tools at mitt, she raises an alarm about a globe-wide crisis—one that may alter Western history and culture—with an entreatment to consider how Western philosophy has run into a rational dead end and that it has too long cut itself off from its roots, ie, the irrational. At an ironic remove, it'southward like a 1930s New York lodge lady hosting an afternoon tea party for her friends to consider the difficulties in Europe—well-meaning, thoughtful, and largely impotent to alter anything.

While Langer is trying to raise the alarm about a world crisis that seemingly has aught to do with philosophy, she has her counterparts in the likes of Cassirer and Heidegger in Germany. As an admirer and acolyte of Cassirer's thinking on the importance of symbol-making in intellection, she observes how Cassirer is one of those High german academics who'd been condemned past the new regime. Farther, she knows that Cassirer has tried to appoint with other philosophers and academics to challenge the new anti-intellectualism; in particular, he has challenged the acquiescent Heidegger to acknowledge the intellectual impiety of endorsing the myth and the practices of the Third Reich. There'southward a whole world exterior Philosophy in a New Key that is only subtly alluded to, and Langer maintains a largely dispassionate and academic opinion towards her thesis. That was my chief frustration: in a volume that advocated the re-invigoration of philosophy by incorporation of the irrational into the domain of epistemology, the irrational (symbol, ritual, art) was handled at a clinical remove, dispassionately.

The popularity of existentialism didn't arise until after the war, and its consideration of the irrational was precisely what Langer was seeking. The existentialists, withal, did non tread as softly or reverently in the groves of academe every bit had Langer. It'due south to her credit that she understood the moment so well, fifty-fifty if she lacked the same messy arroyo to philosophy every bit Sartre, Beauvoir, and Camus, all authors of unsettling fictions. The post-WWII motility towards new western philosophical ideals introduced such countercultural phenomena equally the beatniks, alternative (Eastern) philosophies/organized religion (eg, Buddhism), and a new in-the-moment hedonism (can you dig it?). Music reflected this shifting from sometime standards, and jazz, in item, was the siren call to ways of beingness/thinking that repudiated the staid intellectualism of classical and conventional musical idioms. I cite music because Langer herself looked to music as the 1 form of "knowledge" that was by philosophical/epistemological terms uniquely incomprehensible.

Langer'due south book sums upwards all of Western philosophy and notes how it dead-ends with the linguistic analysis of the metaphysical, ie, that which cannot be expressed rationally/discursively. Only the arrival at a positivist/empirical manner of thinking, while it seems to take led to a dead-stop, means only that humanity's original capacity to apply symbol, sign, and ritual has been refined in ane particular way, not that the symbol-making wellspring has been forever close off. In fact, she asserts, it cannot be, and mind and soul tin nevertheless be sustained and inspired past the "errors" of our symbol making. Ultimately, life, language, and philosophy are heuristic, ie, they simply go along by trial and fault to go whatever they get. Information technology doesn't sound like much of a rallying cry, but information technology's realistic, dispassionate, and nigh probable true.

...more

A good book about the importance of symbolizing for homo thinking. There are passages that (hopefully) would exist left out if the book were to be published today - for case how she constantly exemplifies mysticism and savageness with colonized natives. Personally, I skipped most of those parts, since they oftentimes also clearly are wrong and not even helpful to understand the 'philosophy in a new cardinal' which is Langer'due south primary concept. That set bated, this is a piece of work that continues to be important in A good book about the importance of symbolizing for human thinking. There are passages that (hopefully) would be left out if the book were to be published today - for instance how she constantly exemplifies mysticism and savageness with colonized natives. Personally, I skipped most of those parts, since they oftentimes also clearly are incorrect and not even helpful to understand the 'philosophy in a new key' which is Langer's primary concept. That set aside, this is a piece of work that continues to exist of import in our 24-hour interval for overlapping aesthetics and theoretical philosophy. This is a sound start to start questioning some of the concepts in philosophy that we take for granted or already de-mystified. ...more than

I think one would capeesh this volume more if he or she is a philosophy student. Or as was my case because it deals with art and knowledge, a key topic in my PHD research.

What I liked the most is Langer'southward ability to observe everyday examples as evidence for her theories.

The writting style is however very much hard to follow compared to other academic tests. The amount of terms and references is overwhelming for someone not specially literate in philosophy theories.

I think i would appreciate this book more if he or she is a philosophy student. Or as was my case because information technology deals with art and knowledge, a key topic in my PHD enquiry.

What I liked the most is Langer's power to discover everyday examples as evidence for her theories.

The writting mode is yet very much hard to follow compared to other academic tests. The amount of terms and references is overwhelming for someone not specially literate in philosophy theories.

...more

While the arguments and supporting literature are a little dated, Langer's thesis on the office of symbolic transformation in ritual and art is by far one of the about accessible and denoting texts in the field. I strongly recommend consulting Philosophy in a New Key together with Saussure'southward Course in Full general Linguistics, for a comprehensive foundation on structuralism and aesthetic theory. While the arguments and supporting literature are a little dated, Langer's thesis on the role of symbolic transformation in ritual and art is by far i of the nearly attainable and cogent texts in the field. I strongly recommend consulting Philosophy in a New Key together with Saussure's Course in General Linguistics, for a comprehensive foundation on structuralism and aesthetic theory. ...more

Jul 27, 2018 Carol Tilley rated it really liked information technology

Some provocative earl semiotics ideas although some examples haven't aged well. Some provocative earl semiotics ideas although some examples haven't aged well. ...more

Sep 19, 2014 Charles Rouse rated it really liked it

I agree that it's a "must read." Of course, I take a long time interest in philosophy. Langer is a proficient answer to people who call back that women don't do philosophy, of form they exercise, and she did. It'southward helpful as a compendium of the thoughts in philosophy in the eye of the Twentieth Century. That's an important flow for Anglo/American philosophy and Langer is a good source to understand some of that. It's as well skilful just for brilliant thinking and insightful looks at near everything she consi I hold that it's a "must read." Of form, I take a long time interest in philosophy. Langer is a good answer to people who think that women don't do philosophy, of course they do, and she did. It's helpful as a compendium of the thoughts in philosophy in the middle of the Twentieth Century. That's an important period for Anglo/American philosophy and Langer is a good source to empathize some of that. It'southward besides good just for bright thinking and insightful looks at most everything she considers. Highly recommended. ...more than

A brilliant book about the philosophy of art. It is a study of symbolism, but primarily non-discursive (or nonverbal) symbolism in fine art, music, ritual, myth, etc. She presented material from many sources either forgotten or inaccessible because of the language barrier (Langer was bilingual, a German-American). I constitute it a good read and several expert quotes that I suspect tin shed lite on some Soviet semiotics of art.

Langer's writing is engaging and her use of semiotic as a glass through which to view the development of human culture is idea-provoking. The impoverishment she describes in the concluding chapter has the most resonance for me, although certainly my ain world-view invested it with more significance than Langer intended. Virtually pregnant is the impact she had on Walker Percy. Langer's writing is engaging and her utilize of semiotic as a glass through which to view the evolution of human civilisation is thought-provoking. The impoverishment she describes in the final chapter has the near resonance for me, although certainly my own world-view invested it with more significance than Langer intended. Most meaning is the impact she had on Walker Percy. ...more

Nov eleven, 2016 Ci rated it it was amazing

I read her "The Lord of Creation" collected in the Borzoi College Reader, an excellent essay on linguistic communication, symbols, as force of cultural creation and destruction in human society. So I am making a notation to look out for books by her in the future. I read her "The Lord of Cosmos" nerveless in the Borzoi Higher Reader, an first-class essay on language, symbols, as force of cultural creation and destruction in human society. So I am making a note to look out for books by her in the future. ...more

It is a little bit boring, but when points are made they are pretty damn insightful/eye-opening.

Jul 17, 2014 Kåre rated it information technology was ok

skimmede den kun. kunstkapitlet er gammeldags på den måde, at det ikke kan tænke tanken, at kunst er mode. det er vel en oplagt teori i dag?

An accented "must read" for anyone interested in the nature of linguistic communication, and non-linguistic forms (symbols) for communicating meaning. . . An absolute "must read" for anyone interested in the nature of linguistic communication, and non-linguistic forms (symbols) for communicating meaning. . . ...more

Susanne Katherina Langer (née Knauth) (December xx, 1895 – July 17, 1985) was an American philosopher of heed and of art, who was influenced by Ernst Cassirer and Alfred North Whitehead. She was ane of the first women to reach an academic career in philosophy and the showtime woman to be popularly and professionally recognized every bit an American philosopher. Langer is all-time known for her 1942 book entit Susanne Katherina Langer (née Knauth) (December 20, 1895 – July 17, 1985) was an American philosopher of listen and of art, who was influenced by Ernst Cassirer and Alfred North Whitehead. She was one of the first women to achieve an academic career in philosophy and the commencement woman to exist popularly and professionally recognized equally an American philosopher. Langer is best known for her 1942 book entitled, Philosophy in a New Key. (wikipedia) ...more

Related Articles

March is Women's History Calendar month, defended to the study, observance, and commemoration of the vital role of women in American history.   Some...

"The assignment of meanings [in music] is a shifting, kaleidoscopic play, probably below the threshold of consciousness, certainly exterior the pale of discursive thinking. The imagination that responds to music is personal and associative and logical, tinged with affect, tinged with bodily rhythm, tinged with dream, but concerned with a wealth of formulations for its wealth of wordless knowledge, its whole knowledge of emotional and organic experience, of vital impulse, balance, conflict, the ways of living and dying and feeling." — ten likes

"Nature, as human being has always known it, he knows no more than.
Since he has learned to esteem signs above symbols, to suppress his emotional reactions in favor of applied ones and make apply of nature instead of property and so much of it sacred, he has contradistinct the face, if not the heart, of reality." — 6 likes

More quotes…

Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign yous in to your Goodreads account.

ribushspaided01.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/421727.Philosophy_in_a_New_Key

Share :