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