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On Arthur Schopenhauer's The World As Will and Representation (1818), vol. 1, book 3, sections 34, 38-39, 40, 45, and focusing on 51 and 52, plus chapters 34 and 39 from vol. 3 (1844). This continues our previous discussion of book 2 and the beginning of book 3.
Is music just pleasing, structured sound? Schopenhauer thinks it's much more than that: it's our way of experiencing Will itself, the striving that underlies and unifies the universe. But oddly, the only way to really enjoy it or any other art (at least in the manner S. approves of, which does not involve "boogying") is to in some sense leave our personal strivings behind and enter a state of will-less contemplation.
Mark, Wes, and Dylan are joined by Jonathan Segel (from the band Camper Van Beethoven) to discuss the beautiful (good!), the charming (bad!), the sublime (scary, but extra good), how music differs from the representational arts (it's better), how music does or doesn't go with words and images, and what Platonic Ideas have to do with all of this. And did you know that cellos are vegetables? You did not. Read more about the topic and get the readings. Also, check out the Aftershow where Mark and Jonathan chatted more with listeners and host Danny Lobell.
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End song: "(Ever and) Always" by Jonathan Segel from All Attractions (2012). More info.
Sponsors: St. John's College Graduate Institute: partiallyexaminedlife.com/sjcgi and Casper: casper.com/pel (enter promo code PEL for $50 off your mattress, with a 100-night risk-free trial).
Young Schopenhauer picture by Cory Mohler.
and the beat goes on
http://new-savanna.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-rhythm-of-consciousness.html
When Jonathan brought up the concept of culturally induced expectations of tonic-dominant, cadence etc. he thought to vitiate it with the concept of neural resonance. Neural plasticity, however, would bolster the cultural concept; what we hear, how we meditate, what we do with our bodies is mirrored by changes in brain structure.
Adorno also talks about music, in his “The Culture Industry”, specifically The Fetish Character in Music, and The Regression of Listening.
Hey! Late to the party having just discovered this pod cast. Love it so far and happy you guys did this. On episode 11 or so – I have a lot of listening ahead of me.
Anyways, in re to Schopenhauer but unrelated to the topic:
http://fuckyeahdiomedes.tumblr.com/post/109926716974/what-philosopher-should-you-fight
Perhaps someone will think this is funny… I did.
Got to see (and very slightly get to know) Fred Frith when he first came to New York with a couple of H. Cow and Gong folks in the late 70’s, including the (sadly) recently deceased Daevid Allen. Why’s he supposed to be a more obscure reference than Mick Jagger or Jay-Z? I don’t see it. Now, Derek Bailey, maybe…
Great episode guys! I love all the Schopenhauer ones. Schopenhauer was the first philosopher I read and still the one I read the most. I think he’s right about music. Anytime I put on my ipod to “escape” or change my mood, I prove Schopenhauer’s point to myself. Same with concerts, movies, etc. It’s a losing oneself, a letting go. I don’t think it’s so much an “engagement with” as most philosophers think. After a few drinks at a good rock concert, Schopenhauer always seems dead right to me. I enjoyed the listen. Thanks.