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Is music conscious? The argument from motion, and other considerations.

Kevin O’regan

Psychomusicology Music Mind and Brain December 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1037/pmu0000198 (opens in new tab)

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Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Citations 1
Key points Argues that musical motion may be understood literally rather than only metaphorically, and proposes, using Block's "access consciousness," hypothetical ways music could be conscious; concludes that understanding the interaction of "phenomenal consciousness" and "access consciousness" is important for conceptualizing non-human consciousnesses such as music.

Abstract

Music is often described in anthropomorphic terms. This paper suggests that if we think about music in certain ways we could think of it as conscious. Motional characteristics give music the impression of being alive, but musical motion is conventionally taken as metaphorical. The first part of this paper argues that metaphor may not be the exclusive means of understanding musical motion – there could also be literal ways. Discussing kinds of consciousness, particularly “access consciousness” (Block 1995), the second part proposes ways in which music could (hypothetically) be conscious. The conclusion states that a greater understanding of the interactions of “phenomenal consciousness” and “access consciousness” is important in conceptualizing non-human consciousnesses, such as music might be conceived to be.

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