An Analysis Of Cassirer's View Of Human Nature From The Perspective Of Marxist Philosophy

What is the nature of humankind? Many philosophers are founding the answer of this question since ancient Greek.There are many theories which have been put forward beside this question.Cassirer was one of these philosophers who has a specific contribution.In Cassirer theory,‘human is animal of symbol'.He took the symbol as a bridge which could integrate people and their culture to form a unique cultural philosophy system.This theory is a new vision to analyse the nature of humanity.The result of Cassirer's research is mainly reflected in the book ‘the theory of human beings'.This paper is based on Cassirer's theory to analyse the humanity.Cassirer believes that the symbol and culture are the features of human.Cassirer thinks that human is called human because they can create culture by symbol.And human can improve themselves in this process.Simply put,in his point of view,symbol is the difference between human and animal,the human knows how to use symbol while animal only can use signal.Human beings could use the symbol to create the culture and improve themselves.Thereby,the symbol is the specific part in Cassirer's view of humanity.Moreover,culture is another important part of Cassirer's research.He states that culture world is the world of the symbol.Mythology,religion,language,art,history and science are part of the culture.These forms of culture are established though the use of the symbol.The development of culture is the representative of the development of human beings.The nature of humankind is ultimately reflected in the development and creation of these cultural forms.Karl Marx,as one of the greatest philosopher of the 19 th century,had also analysed the human nature and presented it in his article.Different with Cassirer analysed human in the culture point of view,Marx analysed human in the practical point of view.Although there is not direct inherit relationship between Cassirer and Marx,they have some similar thoughts on the human nature,human development and culture which is worth for us to explore.This paper aims to analyse Cassirer's view of humanity though the Marxist philosophy and recognize the new Cassirer's theory.Find the reasonable and criticize the unreasonable.There is four chapters in this paper.The first chapter is the introduction.It elaborates the source and the current status of this topic.It;s precondition of writing.The second chapter focuses on the source of Cassirer'sthought.Cassirer's theory is not without source,the history of discussion of humanity lead Cassirer to explor humanity.These thoughts are his enlightening thoughts.With the future study,more philosophers brought inspirations to him.At the same time,the contemporary circumstance bring his reality demand.This chapter mainly paves the way for elaborating its main ideas.The third chapter mainly introduces the contents of Cassirer's human nature through four parts.The fourth chapter is based on the Marxist perspective to reflect the human nature of Cassirer' thought.In the process of analysis to reflect it.And we should find the limitation and significant of Cassirer's thought.