View of Music Affects Philosophy—part 1

 View of Music Affects Philosophy—part 1

            One’s Music philosophers who are formalists generally believe that “Music’s beauty, its essential nature, and its highest value are things that are music’s and music’s alone...”  Philosophical Perspectives on Music by Wayne Bowman, p. 194. The referentialist’s position is that music’s meaning must have connection to meanings outside of music.  Symbolists believe that music’s symbols are objects used to represent abstract insight into an understanding of the nature of human feeling.      

            As may be seen from the views just mentioned, music’s way of “knowing” and its ability to communicate that knowledge is essentially different depending on one’s philosophical view.  Some who believe that music is a closed system will tend to believe that music has its own agenda i.e. that the significance of music is not related in any way to life in general.  Others who consider music to be a closed system believe that music symbols reveal the significance of human feeling which is in no way related to what the performer or auditor brings to musicing or music listening.  The philosophical views of non-referentialists all tend to either be, or to have the propensity to become, autonomous philosophical views. When a musician develops an autonomous music philosophy, that musician will have a definite inclination or tendency to behave musically in a way that is independent of the Lordship of Christ and the emphasis is placed on the musicer rather on music’s ability to communicate.

Thought for the Day

One’s philosophical position will affect what he or she does musically.  As I have often said, “Direction affects destiny.”