1P04 Musicality – A Philosophical Perspective

Tutor/Facilitator Maurita Harney

When
Date: on/from Mon 9 Feb 2026 to Mon 22 Jun 2026
Frequency: 2nd & 4th Mondays
Class time: 2:15-3:45

Delivered F2F

Where
Mary Kehoe Centre, Room 3

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Other information

‘Musicality’, here, is broadly understood as the general human capacity to respond to, engage with, or create music. In this subject we explore the relation of music to mind, language, and nature. A philosophical approach means we can draw on a range of disciplines in undertaking this exploration. Questions and topics may include: the relation of music to the brain and to cognitive development and impairment; the centrality of emotion in music; is music the foundation of language, or a byproduct of it? Is music unique to human culture? Or does it exist in nature? Is birdsong music? Whale song? Does technology enhance musicality or dumb it down? The metaphysics of music in the philosophy of selected philosophers e.g. Pythagoreans on music and mathematics; continental philosophers Bergson, Husserl, etc. on music and the concept of time. Lecture-discussion format.

REQUIREMENTS: Intellectual curiosity; access to internet.

TUTOR: Maurita is Honorary Senior Fellow in Philosophy at Melbourne University and has taught and researched philosophy over most of her career.

2th & 4th Mondays

No class on 8 June

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