Melody and metaphorical movement

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

British Journal of Aesthetics

Publication Date

4-1-2007

Volume

47

Issue

2

First Page

156

Last Page

168

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Abstract

In recent issues of this journal, Roger Scruton and Malcolm Budd have debated the question whether hearing a melody in a sequence of sounds necessarily involves an ‘unasserted thought’ about spatial movement. According to Scruton, the answer is ‘yes’; according to Budd, the answer is ‘no’. The conclusion of this paper is that, while Budd may have underestimated the viability of Scruton's thesis in one of its possible interpretations, there is no good reason to assume that the thesis is true. Very briefly, the argument for the second part of the conclusion is that we can account for all the data adduced by Scruton in favour of his hypothesis by means of hypotheses that are far less daring.

DOI

10.1093/aesthj/ayl053

Print ISSN

00070904

E-ISSN

14682842

Publisher Statement

Copyright © British Society of Aesthetics 2007

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

De Clercq, R. (2007). Melody and metaphorical movement. British Journal of Aesthetics, 47(2), 156-168. doi: 10.1093/aesthj/ayl053

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