Good post, but I’m just not seeing why the emotion in question should in any way require a factual statement that something is (unattainably) perfect. Maybe this is just a basic philosophical difference? Certainly when I listen to some of these songs (highly recommended, BTW), I’m pretty sure it’s with the same emotion (including the same neural circuits) with which a devout Christian listens to hymns, without any requirement that perfection come into it.
Well, what’s questionable is not so much whether the thing is perfect, as whether the attitude of adoration is appropriate to it. Can you get swept up in one of these moving secular songs, and then afterwards think that their subject actually deserved that depth of emotion? It sounds like you can, in which case: you probably have your answer.
Good post, but I’m just not seeing why the emotion in question should in any way require a factual statement that something is (unattainably) perfect. Maybe this is just a basic philosophical difference? Certainly when I listen to some of these songs (highly recommended, BTW), I’m pretty sure it’s with the same emotion (including the same neural circuits) with which a devout Christian listens to hymns, without any requirement that perfection come into it.
I’d give this 16 upvotes if I could. For awesome music link. Thanks!
Related to this, I assume everyone here has heard Symphony of Science?
Well, what’s questionable is not so much whether the thing is perfect, as whether the attitude of adoration is appropriate to it. Can you get swept up in one of these moving secular songs, and then afterwards think that their subject actually deserved that depth of emotion? It sounds like you can, in which case: you probably have your answer.
Right: yes, I can.