The Concept and the Problem of Representation [Repräsentation]

If we wish to progress from that primary form of the consciousness of reality that is contained in the pure expressive lived-experience to richer and higher forms of the view of the world, then we can only search for a road map and a general guiding principle for this progress in the objective configurations of spiritual culture. Configured from a unitary sense, the linguistic melody contributes decisively to the precise determination of significations; thus, it is the sensible expression, the representation of the whole-sense as a unity. The more closely we follow the special paths taken by the general basic function of “representation” and “recognition,”, the more clearly their nature and specific unity will be revealed to us — and it will be increasingly evident that it is ultimately one and the same fundamental performance by virtue of which spirit rises to the creation of language as well as the creation of the intuitive worldview.