Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite, and Art, Third Edition

by Susanne K. Langer

Book Overview

Modern theories of meaning usually culminate in a critique of science. This book presents a study of human intelligence beginning with a semantic theory and leading into a critique of music.

By implication it sets up a theory of all the arts; the transference of its basic concepts to other arts than music is not developed, but it is sketched, mainly in the chapter on artistic import. Thoughtful readers of the original edition discovered...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674665031
• ISBN13: 9780674665033
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 334 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

One of the Most Important Books Today

Unfortunately, most scientists are unaware of this book and its important announcement on page 21. There, it says that 'our sense-data are primarily symbolic.' This anouncement informs us of a new problem, the problem of meaning. Physical scientist missed this announcement because they found that six fundamental physical quantities --- electric charge, temperature, mass, length, time duration, and angle --- and secondary quantities (e.g., density) form many physical laws. Fortunately, the meanings of all physical symbols come with the physical laws of nonliving things. The symbols in these laws define each other, just like a pair of opposites define each other. Unfortunately, physical scientists claim that living things also come from nonliving things. This is not true because they make this claim because they do not believe in God. However, my 2005 scientific proof of God proves that living things do not come from nonliving things. Since God exists, one will learns that living things are spiritual/physical things. Since other fields of science deal with living things, the problem of meaning becomes very important to them. However, these other fields missed the above announcement also. Thus, they give meaning to symbols using either Aristotle's concept of definition or the meanings given by the pgysical sciences physical things. I believe that most social scientists use Aristotle's method of definition. And, biologists, medical doctors, and evolutionists hang onto the meanings of the symbols that come from physical science because they assume that living things come from nonliving things. I urge physical scientists, mathematicians, biologists, medical doctors and evolutionists to consider God as a reality. I especially urge medical doctors and the National Institutes of Health to stop creating the mechanical drugs that kill patients. Since God is now proven to exist, I conclude that the field of science is lost and will remain that way until they find God.So, this book will become increasingly important to people as they learn the truth about God.

Un hito en la Estética y la Filosofía del Arte

Esta obra, habiendo sido publicada en el 1953, es completamente actual y vigente. Langer combina una potente mente sistemática, un finísimo y consistente análisis filosófico junto a una sensibilidad propia de una artista. La autora habla del proceso artístico desde dentro. En este libro pone los fundamentos de una filosofía del Arte, (haciendo mayor énfasis en la Música, (ya era hora!)) y esboza un camino muy consistente y sistemático para establecer de qué tipo de conocimiento estamos hablando cuando nos referimos al arte. Analiza el proceso creativo del artista con tal sensibilidad que cualquier artista se verá reconocido en gran medida en su propio quehacer sin ninguna violencia. Altamente recomendable para cualquiera que busque una mayor consciencia de lo que supone el proceso artístico en todas sus dimensiones, así como los cimientos de una epistemología del Arte, seria y consistente... Una delicia de lectura!!Después llegaría la continuación con su magnífica obra 'Feeling and Form'

Still the best view of the human thought process.

Written in the 40's, but still as valid today as ever. Not exactly PC in style or language usage, but none better for clear and concise description of the human philosophical/mental condition. As we start to scratch the surface of our gray matter in the upcoming years, this theory of the mind gives us a thorough understanding of where we are. We are symbol creating creatures and that defines us as we are constantly defining our surroundings.

A great book

_Philosophy in a New Key_ treats with a wide range of deep philosophical issues, but Langer writes in a clear, accessible style, so that the book should be both intelligible and enjoyable for a wide audience. The book starts with the proposition that the questions we ask are more important than the answers we give, since the questions determine the potential range of answers and the shape of the world we live in. It ends by proposing a critically defensible way to deal with the "loss of meaning" which Galilean natural science's "disenchantment of the world" has brought about. Although written in 1948, _Philosophy in a New Key_ remains vital today. Indeed, in key ways it still remains (alas...) ahead of *our* time. A truly great -- humane -- work.