卡西爾的哲學是康德之後哲學認識論的一次重大轉向，人文學研究的 一個重大突破。卡西爾在認識論上的轉向主要表現在：他把康德的「理性的批判」 轉變成為「文明的批判」，對西方傳統哲學作了重大「修正」，從而建立起他的符 號哲學。他是通過對語言符號功能的認識去構造其哲學大廈的，因此，他在認論 上的轉向實質上是「語言的轉向」。這一轉向的意義就在於：他試圖打破邏輯思 維法則的專橫統治，使語言運思方式獲得更大自由，從而使人類思想與行為變得 更自由。

Cassier's philosophy is a significant turn of epistemology after the time of Kant. It is also a great break-through in the field of humanistic research. The meaning of Cassier's epistemological turn is: he changes Kant's “rational critique” into “cultural critique,” modifying the traditional western philosophy to a great extent and establishing his own philosophy of symbols. He constructs his philosophy by understanding the functions of linguistic symbols; therefore his epistemological turn is esssentially a “linguistic turn.” The significance of such a turn lies in that he tries to break through the imperious dominance of logical thinking and acquires more freedom, which grants one more freedom in his or her thoughts and behaviors.