Music, meaning, and sociality

from the standpoint of a social phenomenologist

Andreas Goettlich

pp. 243-257

in: Michael Barber, Jochen Dreher (eds), The interrelation of phenomenology, social sciences and the arts, Berlin, Springer, 2014

Abstract

Starting from Alfred Schutz's definition of music as a meaningful context, the paper discusses the social formation of musical meaning by implementing an ideal typification of composer, musician, and listener. The reflection of their interrelation discloses the significant difference between the reconstruction of musical meaning and its initial constitution, thereby hinting at the general border between sociological and philosophical analysis. Against this background the paper tries to complement Schutz's thoughts on music as a social phenomenon by consulting the work of the German philosopher Helmuth Plessner.

Cited authors

Plessner Helmuth

Schütz Alfred