Ferrara to host conference on Cassirer, Warburg, and Renaissance philosophy

The Istituto Studi Rinascimentali will host a conference titled ‘Cassirer, Warburg and the Philosophy of the Renaissance’ on October 1, 2026, at Palazzo Schifanoia in Ferrara, Italy.

The event focuses on the intellectual contributions of Ernst Cassirer and Aby Warburg, specifically how their work reshaped the understanding of images, symbols, and history in the 20th century. The discussion is prompted by the publication of the volume ‘Le eredità filosofiche di Ernst Cassirer’ (The Philosophical Legacies of Ernst Cassirer), edited by Carlo Brentari and Salvatore Carannante and published by Edizioni dell’Università di Trento.

Central to the discussion is Cassirer’s view of the Renaissance as a pivotal era that redefined the relationship between humanity and the world, shifting the boundaries between myth and reason, and nature and freedom. The conference will also highlight the significant collaboration between Cassirer and Warburg, which was instrumental in developing the philosophy of symbolic forms.