Philosophy in a New Key, published in 1942, established a framework for understanding human cognition through the lens of symbolism. Susanne Langer argued that the drive to invent and invest meanings into the world is a fundamental human requirement, separating human experience from the reactive behaviors observed in the animal kingdom.
Academic Foundation
Born in Manhattan in 1895 as Susanne Katherina Knauth, she received a primary education at the Veltin School for Girls and through home tutoring. She entered Radcliffe College in 1916, earning a bachelor's degree in 1920. Her graduate path led to Harvard University, where she secured a master's degree in 1924 and a doctorate in 1926. This academic training enabled her to serve as a philosophy tutor at Radcliffe from 1927 until 1942.
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Langer analyzed the distinction between discursive and presentational symbols. She posited that discursive symbols rely on stable, context-invariant meanings, whereas presentational symbols function as unified wholes, such as a note within a musical arrangement or a singular element in a painting. Her analysis concluded that extracting form from content in art is logically inconsistent. Her subsequent 1953 work, Feeling and Form, expanded these aesthetic theories.
Professional Trajectory
Beyond her early work at Radcliffe, Langer held teaching positions across numerous institutions. She lectured at the University of Delaware, Columbia University from 1945 to 1950, and Connecticut College from 1954 to 1962. Her teaching engagements included the University of Michigan, New York University, Northwestern University, Ohio University, Smith College, Vassar College, the University of Washington, and Wellesley College.
Late Work and Recognition
In her later career, Langer sought to develop a psychology-based theory regarding the life of the mind, utilizing process philosophy conventions. This culminated in her final publication, Mind: An Essay on Human Feeling. In 1960, she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Following her death in 1985 in Old Lyme, she was posthumously inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in 1996.
Fast facts
- Born: 1895, Manhattan
- Died: 1985, Old Lyme
- Alma mater: Radcliffe College, Harvard University
- Key work: Philosophy in a New Key (1942)
- Key work: Feeling and Form (1953)
- Fellowship: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Induction: Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame (1996)
Questions readers ask
What is the central focus of Langer's philosophy?
She argued that symbolism is the primary concern of philosophy, as the human capacity to use symbols is what differentiates humans from other animals.
How did Langer define virtuality?
She described it as the quality of objects created intentionally for perception, existing as a physical space of contemplation, such as architecture or painting.
Achievements
- Fields: philosophy of mind
