Time of the Magicians

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In 1919, the aftermath of World War I shapes the lives of four pivotal philosophers: Walter Benjamin, Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Ernst Cassirer. Each stands at a critical crossroads. Benjamin, struggling with his academic career and seeking independence from his domineering father, lives as a freelance critic. In stark contrast, Wittgenstein renounces his substantial inheritance from one of Europe's wealthiest families to fully dedicate himself to intellectual pursuits. Heidegger, having evaded combat by serving as a meteorologist, is methodically advancing his career under the mentorship of Edmund Husserl while distancing himself from his Catholic roots. Cassirer, on the fringes of academia, is passionately focused on his writing and aspirations at Hamburg University. As their paths intertwine over the next decade, these thinkers emerge as significant figures in the philosophical landscape. However, with the specter of World War II looming, their destinies diverge dramatically. Wolfram Eilenberger masterfully chronicles the tumultuous journeys of these influential minds, weaving in the contributions of notable contemporaries like John Maynard Keynes and Hannah Arendt, while illuminating their profound yet often misunderstood ideas.