'For the person or persons that hold dominion, can no more combine with the keeping up of majesty the running with harlots drunk or naked about the streets, or the performances of a stage player, or the open violation or contempt of laws passed by themselves than they can combine existence with non-existence'.

- Benedict de Spinoza. Political Treatise. 1677.




Monday, October 27, 2014

Philosophical Grammar 4


4. Comparison with understanding a piece of music: for explanation I can only translate the musical picture into a picture in another medium – and why just that picture? Comparison with understanding a picture. Perhaps we see only patches and lines – “we do not understand the picture”. Seeing a genre-picture in different ways.



it may be that translating the musical  picture into another medium – does throw light on the other –

however this not the only possible account – the only possible explanation of a piece of music – and it may not be a very good one – it will depend on the circumstance

in any case – what you have with explanation – is not this picture business – but rather propositional action

an explanation of anything is a proposal – and like that which it is ‘explaining’ – or in effect replacing –

open to question – open to doubt –

perhaps we see patches and lines – all very well –

but yes – a picture like a piece of music – like a sentence – can be interpreted – in any number of ways

and with any interpretation – understanding



© greg t. charlton. 2014.