Considering the importance of Goethe in Cassirer’s philosophy, this article assumes as reference the Goethian concept of “original phenomenon” and analyses its significance in Cassirer’s philosophy of symbolic forms. If in the Goethian naturalistic researches it represents the limit of knowledge, i.e. the insuperable principle of phenomenal unity, the Cassirerian notion of “symbolic form” and even more that of “symbolic dynamic” as original unity of these forms appear to play the same function in the configuration of meaning. However the “original phenomenon” as original unity is never immediately present, but it must be found only in each concrete occurrence, i.e. in its possible variation: this main origin – in Goethe “life”, in Cassirer “symbolic dynamics of meaning’s formation” – can’t be set, but to get it, it’s necessary to repeat its specific rhythm. This qualifies in Cassirer’s view the philosophical practice itself as search of the origin and at the same time as ideal liberation from all what is given.

Il concetto di ‘fenomeno originario’. Cassirer, Goethe e la ricerca dell’origine / C. Bonaldi. - In: ANNUARIO FILOSOFICO. - ISSN 0394-1809. - XXVI:(2011), pp. 349-370.

Il concetto di ‘fenomeno originario’. Cassirer, Goethe e la ricerca dell’origine

C. Bonaldi
Primo
2011

Abstract

Considering the importance of Goethe in Cassirer’s philosophy, this article assumes as reference the Goethian concept of “original phenomenon” and analyses its significance in Cassirer’s philosophy of symbolic forms. If in the Goethian naturalistic researches it represents the limit of knowledge, i.e. the insuperable principle of phenomenal unity, the Cassirerian notion of “symbolic form” and even more that of “symbolic dynamic” as original unity of these forms appear to play the same function in the configuration of meaning. However the “original phenomenon” as original unity is never immediately present, but it must be found only in each concrete occurrence, i.e. in its possible variation: this main origin – in Goethe “life”, in Cassirer “symbolic dynamics of meaning’s formation” – can’t be set, but to get it, it’s necessary to repeat its specific rhythm. This qualifies in Cassirer’s view the philosophical practice itself as search of the origin and at the same time as ideal liberation from all what is given.
Settore M-FIL/01 - Filosofia Teoretica
2011
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/203667
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