Reflections on social and religious pluralism based on the philosophy of Ernst Cassirer

pages: 338-358

Abstract

The analysis of possibilities of dialogue as the prerequisite for social and religious pluralism based on Ernst Cassirer’s philosophy of symbolic forms is the main theme of this article. In the central section, the basic elements of the philosophy of symbolic forms are briefly introduced and are followed by a portrayal of the relationship between consciousness, symbolic forms and freedom. The essay then focuses on Cassirer’s general premises for his analysis of myth and also his description of the techniques of modern political myths. These elements of Cassirer’s philosophy are put forth so as to demonstrate the relevancy of his thought with regard to the issue of dialogue and pluralism, and also to indicate the applicability of his analysis concerning the presence of mythical consciousness in modern societies, including also the societies on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The conclusion endeavors to gather the wealth of Cassirer’s analyses and to apply these in a condensed manner to an analysis of the situation in the regions indicated and also to point out directions to be taken in the search for possible solutions. Keywords: dialogue, pluralism, symbolic forms, consciousness, freedom, myth, political myths