Heinz Cassirer
Encyclopedia
Dr. Heinz W. Cassirer was a Kant
ian philosopher, the son of a famous German philosopher, Ernst Cassirer
. Being Jews, the Cassirer family fled the Nazis in the 1930s. Heinz went to University of Glasgow
working with Professor H. J. Paton, who persuaded him to write a book on Kant
's third Critique, the Critique of Judgment. Following Paton, he moved to Oxford
, lecturing at Corpus Christi College
.
He was a noted scholar on the thought of Kant. Cassirer, "translator and interpret of Kant, is reliably reported to have asked, ‘Why is it that this Swiss theologian understands Kant far better than any philosopher I have come across?’" (Gunton 2002: xvi). While at Glasgow, his observations of society in Scotland led him to speak of "'Highland ravings' - the obsessive clinging on to what is wholly illusory" (Weitzman 1997: 30).
As a middle-aged adult, reading the New Testament
for the first time, Cassirer was struck by the writings of St. Paul in relation to ethics
. As he studied, he committed himself to the Christian faith. He produced a translation of the New Testament
from the Greek sources, titled God's New Covenant: A New Testament Translation
. His own Jewish heritage and knowledge of Jewish customs is said to have given a unique insight into familiar Bible texts. His translation is also noted for its formal language. Below is a sample passage, Matthew 7:24.
KANT
KANT is a computer algebra system for mathematicians interested in algebraic number theory, performing sophisticated computations in algebraic number fields, in global function fields, and in local fields. KASH is the associated command line interface...
ian philosopher, the son of a famous German philosopher, Ernst Cassirer
Ernst Cassirer
Ernst Cassirer was a German philosopher. He was one of the major figures in the development of philosophical idealism in the first half of the 20th century...
. Being Jews, the Cassirer family fled the Nazis in the 1930s. Heinz went to University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
working with Professor H. J. Paton, who persuaded him to write a book on Kant
KANT
KANT is a computer algebra system for mathematicians interested in algebraic number theory, performing sophisticated computations in algebraic number fields, in global function fields, and in local fields. KASH is the associated command line interface...
's third Critique, the Critique of Judgment. Following Paton, he moved to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, lecturing at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
.
He was a noted scholar on the thought of Kant. Cassirer, "translator and interpret of Kant, is reliably reported to have asked, ‘Why is it that this Swiss theologian understands Kant far better than any philosopher I have come across?’" (Gunton 2002: xvi). While at Glasgow, his observations of society in Scotland led him to speak of "'Highland ravings' - the obsessive clinging on to what is wholly illusory" (Weitzman 1997: 30).
As a middle-aged adult, reading the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
for the first time, Cassirer was struck by the writings of St. Paul in relation to ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
. As he studied, he committed himself to the Christian faith. He produced a translation of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
from the Greek sources, titled God's New Covenant: A New Testament Translation
God's New Covenant: A New Testament Translation
God's New Covenant: A New Testament Translation is a modern English translation of the New Testament Greek Scriptures. It was translated and edited by German-Jewish Christian writer and philosopher Heinrich Walter Cassirer...
. His own Jewish heritage and knowledge of Jewish customs is said to have given a unique insight into familiar Bible texts. His translation is also noted for its formal language. Below is a sample passage, Matthew 7:24.
Writings by Heinz Cassirer
- 1989. God's New Covenant: A New Testament Translation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
- 1988. Grace and Law: St. Paul, Kant, and the Hebrew Prophets. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
External links
- History of the Cassirer family
- http://genealogy.metastudies.net/ZDocs/Stories/stories02_2.html