Philosophy in a New Key

Tartalom

CONTENTS
I. THE NEW KEY 3
Every epoch characterized by its questions — "generative ideas": their
rise and decline — examples from Greek philosophy — rise and exhaustion of Christian philosophy — rise and exhaustion of modern philosophy — philosophical interests stifled by technological — only mathematics remains both "abstract" and respectable — mathematics a science of symbols and meanings — sense-data and interpretation in science — data as symbols and laws as their meanings — power of symbols a new theme
— "dynamic" psychology — symbolic logic — extravagance of young "generative ideas" — limits of the "field" of an idea — promise of the "new key."
II. SYMBOLIC TRANSFORMATION 26
Influence of semantic problems on genetic psychology — presuppositions of genetic theory: identity of animal and human needs, and derivation of symbol-responses from sign-responses — the mind as a transmitter
— sources of error — error grows with complication — impractical effects of symbol-using — absurdity of a theory that reduces intelligence to folly — such theory contradicted by the persistence of impractical ritual
— by the seriousness of art — by the phenomenon of dream — inventory of human needs reconsidered — special functions presuppose special needs — need of symbolization — the human mind as a transformer — impractical behavior symbolistic — this view explains many anthropological puzzles — several uses of symbolism call for separate investigations.
III. THE LOGIC OF SIGNS AND SYMBOLS 53
Existing analyses of meaning-relation mainly acceptable — historical survey — "quality" of meaning elusive — meaning a function of terms — patterns as contexts — subject, symbol, and object — "meanings of 'meaning' " relative to choice of terms in a pattern — signs and symbols — wide scope of sign-relations — mistake — logical simplicity of signs — symbols and conceptions — names — as signs and as symbols — distinction illustrated by case of Helen Keller — signification, denotation, and connotation — relatedness of denotation and connotation — proper names excepted — symbols and discourse — literal meanings and propositions — syntactical structures — the "logical picture" as a symbol — progressive abstraction — conceptions and concepts — abstraction the basis of rationality — logical virtues of language — truth and falsity.
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CONTENTS
IV. DISCURSIVE FORMS AND PRESENTATIONAL FORMS 79 "Logical projection" — discursive form a "projection" — Carnap's conclusion: syntax of language the limit of conceivability — non-literal symbolism "emotive" — Russell and Wittgenstein on metaphysics — philosophy a development of meanings — symbolic function wider than language — limitation to language leaves too much of mentality nonsensical — rationality begins with articulation — sense-experience an articulation — conceptual character of "things" — "Gestalt" the forerunner of symbolic uses — apprehension of non-discursive forms — such forms not "linguistic" even in a derived sense — logical characteristics of language — of presentational symbolisms — primitive understanding
— forms of feeling — progressive articulation of presentational forms — key to major developments of culture.
V. LANGUAGE 103
All men have completely articulate language — no beasts have any
language — animal communication — mutism of apes — lack of babbling-impulse in the young — enigma of linguistic origins — sometimes sought in "speech-instinct" — deaf children and "wild" children do not speak — problem rejected by philologists — Sapir's reason: it requires general theory of symbolism — its roots always sought in communication — should be sought in early symbol-functions — primitive symbolic behavior of apes — lack of "lalling-instinct" precludes speech — symbols and free forms — utilitarian view a mistake — Furness' ape — the Wild Boy of Aveyron — human "lalling" a transient instinct — conditions for learning language — Donovan's theory of origin — connotation probably before denotation — use — always propositional — Bühler and Wegener on development — emendation — generality through metaphor — Wegener on "faded metaphors" — evolution of conceptual thinking — universality of language explained.
VI. LIFE-SYMBOLS: THE ROOTS OF SACRAMENT . . 144 Sense-images and concepts — metaphorical uses — primitive abstraction
— fantasies — desire and dream — primitive imagination — confusion of symbol and meaning in dream — in savage thought — power of "sacra"
— intellectual excitement in contemplation — emotional expression and gesture — ritual — mimetic rites — mimicry in play — Dewey's theory rejected—ritual as assent to sacred concepts — magic not essentially practical — familiar acts acquire strictest forms — sacrament — derivation of divinities from "sacra" — animal forms — totemism — Jane Harrison on the making of gods.
VII. LIFE-SYMBOLS: THE ROOTS OF MYTH . . . .171 Ritual and myth have different origins — dream and story — primitive
story — characters and acts symbolical — growth of fairytale — fairytale
CONTENTS
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and myth — difference of functions — realistic elements in fairytale — generalization of forms — problem of "nature myths" — the "culture hero" — link between fairytale and myth — nature symbols in his story — evolution of a lunar deity — personification of moon is lunarization of Woman — mythical elaboration — influence of poetic formulation — the Kalevala as transitional form — epic phase the consummation of myth.
VIII. ON SIGNIFICANCE IN MUSIC 204
Art and artifact — "Significant Form" — meaning as central problem
of modern aesthetics — problem of artistic significance — psychoanalytic theory not helpful — form the source of artistic merit — music the best example — theories of music as pleasure — as emotional stimulus — as communication of feeling — fallacy of self-expression theory — music not symptom but symbol — its "significance" a logical problem of art — language of music — program music — language of feeling — logical structure of music and of feeling — analogy of language misleading — Huber on semantic elements in music — presentational symbol not translatable — Urban's theory of art rejected — difficulties of analysis — emotional attitudes of critics — autonomy defended — music as "algebra of feelings" — fallacies — music an unconsummated symbol — assignment of meanings a crutch to musical thinking — musical meanings real but "implicit" — form and content experienced as one.
IX. THE GENESIS OF ARTISTIC IMPORT 246
Origins of music not artistic — sources of folk music — genetic fallacy
— materials furnished by casual sounds — benefit of models in plastic arts — danger of models — confusion of standards — articulation the aim of art — artistic vision — late development of music — due to lack of models — rhythms and words its only guides — airs — emancipation from models — artistic import — Pater's dictum — no comparison of arts implied — content of various arts — unity sought in "aesthetic emotion" — nature of that emotion — not the content of art — artist and audience
— "artistic truth" as adequacy of symbol — distinguished from literal truth — artistic insight — standards of art not absolute — new forms not lucid — old forms become exhausted — literal interpretation and artistic vision — mysticism the limit of meaning.
X. THE FABRIC OF MEANING 266
Practical vision — appreciation of fact — propositional form of fact —
truth and falsity — interest in fact the destruction of myth — "discoveries" secondary — tendency toward realism develops with maturity — system-atization of facts an intellectual challenge — fact as standard of reality — history its typical expression — more factual than science — causation — and verification — combination of symbols and signs — power of realistic thought — change in man's world — nature-symbols outgrown — modern life — signs and symbols the warp and woof of thought — sign-functions
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CONTENTS
— symbol-functions — complexity of meanings — "charged" symbols — complexity of mental life — hardships of moral life — need of orientation
— lack of potent life-symbols — modern reality too new to furnish new "sacra" — freedom of action depends on fixed values — values depend on symbols — ritual acts — meaninglessness in modern life — reorientation a rational need — modern barbarism the effect of new emergent mythologies.

Témakörök