Philosophy of Globalization

Lucas von Ramin

Globalization as a Symbolic Form: Ernst Cassirer’s Philosophy of Symbolic Form as the Basis for a Theory of Globalization

Lucas von Ramin, Technische Universität Dresden (TUD)

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate and problematize the present status of theories of globalization. Because of the actual diversity of these theories, a philosophical definition must be able to include this diversity without becoming meaningless. This paper claims that Ernst Cassirer’s philosophy of culture— especially his Philosophy of Symbolic Forms (1923–1929)—is particularly suitable for providing a uniform access. The first part therefore examines an understanding of such symbolic forms; it shows on the one hand the problems of classical ...