Philosophy in a New Key - Classic Text | Alexandria
Philosophy in a New Key (1942) stands as Susanne K. Langer's groundbreaking philosophical treatise that revolutionized our understanding of symbolism, meaning, and human consciousness. The work represents a pivotal moment in 20th-century philosophy, where Langer boldly challenged traditional empiricist approaches by proposing that human beings are fundamentally symbol-making creatures whose primary activity is the construction of meaning through various forms of symbolic transformation.
Published during the tumultuous years of World War II, the book emerged at a time when logical positivism dominated philosophical discourse in America and Europe. Langer, influenced by Ernst Cassirer's philosophy of symbolic forms and her background in music, crafted an innovative philosophical framework that expanded the boundaries of rational thought beyond verbal language. She argued that non-discursive symbolic forms, particularly in art and music, constitute valid modes of knowing that cannot be reduced to literal or scientific expression.
The book's central thesis introduces the concept of "presentational symbolism," distinguishing it from discursive symbolism (language). This revolutionary idea suggested that art, music, and ritual possess their own logical forms of meaning-making, parallel to but distinct from verbal language. Langer's analysis particularly focused on music as a "non-discursive" form that could express emotional and temporal patterns impossible to articulate through words alone. Her work challenged the prevailing notion that language was the sole vehicle of rational thought and meaning.
Langer's insights continue to influence fields ranging from aesthetics and cognitive science to music theory and educational philosophy. The book's enduring legacy lies in its successful integration of art, emotion, and reason into a coherent philosophical system that validates multiple forms of human understanding. Contemporary scholars still grapple with her provocative assertions about the nature of mind, meaning, and symbolic transformation. Philosophy in a New Key remains a testament to how philosophical inquiry can bridge the apparent divide between reason and feeling, science and art, opening new pathways for understanding human consciousness and creativity. Its relevance persists as we continue to explore the complex relationship between various forms of human expression and meaning-making in an increasingly symbol-rich digital age.