Time of the Magicians: Wittgenstein, Benjamin, Cassirer, Heidegger, and the Decade That Reinvented Philosophy

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In 1919, the aftermath of the First World War shapes the lives of four major philosophers: Walter Benjamin, Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Ernst Cassirer. Each stands at a pivotal moment in their lives. Benjamin, struggling with his overbearing father and an unsteady academic career, seeks to escape while living as a critic. Wittgenstein, rejecting his wealthy inheritance from one of Europe's richest families, pursues spiritual clarity. Heidegger, having avoided combat by serving as a meteorologist, focuses on cultivating his career under Edmund Husserl, distancing himself from his Catholic past. Cassirer, on the fringes of academia, dedicates himself to writing and aims for a position at Hamburg University. As their paths intertwine over the next decade, these thinkers emerge as world historical figures. However, as the Second World War approaches, their destinies diverge dramatically. Wolfram Eilenberger artfully chronicles their tumultuous lives, weaving in other influential figures such as John Maynard Keynes, Hannah Arendt, and Bertrand Russell. Through this narrative, he reveals the brilliance of their ideas, often perceived as enigmatic, and presents a compelling story of ambition and passion among some of history's most significant intellectuals.