On Man
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Summary
Editor's review
The value of reading this book lies first in the profound framework of self-understanding it offers. By tracing how humanity moved from mythic thought to scientific rationality, Cassirer effectively depicts an epic of humanity's spiritual growth. Second, the book possesses strong theoretical integrative power, unifying seemingly disparate cultural phenomena—from primitive ritual to modern physics—under the concept of "symbolic forms," displaying the grand vision of philosophical thinking. For readers today, immersed in an age of information overload and proliferating symbols, the book offers a mirror for reflection: Are we enslaved by symbols, or can we master them to create richer meaning?
A word of caution: Cassirer's exposition follows the German philosophical tradition, is highly speculative, and some chapters involve the philosophical lineage of Kant, Hegel, and others, which may challenge beginners. Yet its core arguments are clear and forceful, and the Shanghai Translation Publishing House edition is of high quality, with detailed annotations that support deeper reading. This is not a book that provides immediate answers but a key to long-term reflection.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a sustained curiosity about and desire to explore the fundamental philosophical question of "human nature"
- Students and scholars engaged in or studying the humanities and social sciences (such as philosophy, linguistics, cultural studies, and anthropology)
- Thoughtful readers who wish to go beyond surface knowledge and understand the deep connections among myth, language, art, and science
- Professionals whose work or creative practice deals with "symbols," "meaning," or "representation," such as writers, designers, and media practitioners
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light reading, life advice, or quick-fix knowledge
- Readers lacking basic patience for or interest in philosophical speculation and theoretical exposition
Reading tips
- Begin by focusing on the first five chapters of Part One to grasp the core thesis that "man is the animal symbolicum," then move on to the detailed analyses of various cultural forms in Part Two.
- Do not feel obliged to understand every philosophical-historical reference on a first reading; focus first on Cassirer's own line of argument, which is largely self-contained.
- Think in connection with a cultural form you know well (such as a particular art, scientific theory, or social phenomenon), and try to reobserve it through the lens of "symbolic forms"; this can effectively deepen your understanding.
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- “世纪文库”出版说明
- 作者序
- 上篇 人是什么？
- 第一章 人类自我认识的危机
- 第二章 符号：人的本性之提示
- 第三章 从动物的反应到人的应对
- 第四章 人类的空间与时间世界
- 第五章 事实与理想
- 下篇 人与文化
- 第六章 以人类文化为依据的人的定义
- 第七章 神话与宗教
- 第八章 语言
- 第九章 艺术
- 第十章 历史
- 第十一章 科学
- 第十二章 总结与结论
FAQ
Can I understand An Essay on Man without a philosophy background?
What relevance do the main ideas of An Essay on Man have for modern life?
What is the relationship between this book and Cassirer's The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms?
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About the author
Ernst Cassirer was an important twentieth-century German philosopher whose works have reached Chinese readers as translations in the fields of philosophy and Western philosophy; the library currently holds five of his titles. From An Essay on Man and its Chinese edition subtitled A Philosophical Introduction to Human Culture to The Logic of the Humanities (a classics translation), these works show his concern with the inner connections among the human being, cultural forms, and the methodology of the humanities: he asks what the human being is, and also explores the boundaries of symbols, the cultural world, and scientific knowledge. Cassirer's writing is known for conceptual clarity and rigorous structure, and he was skilled at linking the history of philosophy with concrete cultural phenomena, which makes him a commonly read author for those seeking an introduction to modern cultural philosophy and theories of the humanities. Public information is limited, so his biographical details are not elaborated here; readers may begin with the representative works mentioned above to enter his intellectual world.
