#Sound and Memory

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of the Ears

The philosophy of the ears examines the role of hearing and sound in human experience, perception, and understanding. It explores the auditory sense as a way of engaging with the world, particularly in relation to communication, music, language, and consciousness. The ears, as the organs of hearing, play a critical role not only in sensory perception but also in how we understand time, space, and meaning.

Key Themes in the Philosophy of the Ears:

Auditory Perception and Reality:

Hearing provides a unique way of perceiving the world, distinct from vision or touch. Sound is temporal and dynamic, and the philosophy of hearing explores how this shapes our experience of time, movement, and change.

Unlike sight, which is oriented around spatial dimensions, hearing is immersive, with sound surrounding us. This leads to philosophical questions about how sound contributes to our sense of place, environment, and presence in the world.

Hearing and Language:

The ears are crucial for understanding language. Spoken language depends on the ability to hear, and through hearing, we comprehend meaning, tone, and context.

Philosophers of language have explored how sound influences the structure of communication, including the emotional, symbolic, and practical aspects of spoken words. Ludwig Wittgenstein, for example, explored how meaning is conveyed through the sounds of language, while J.L. Austin focused on how spoken utterances perform actions in the world.

Music and Aesthetic Experience:

The philosophy of the ears is deeply connected to the philosophy of music. Music, as an auditory art form, engages the ears in profound ways, evoking emotion, memory, and reflection.

Philosophers such as Schopenhauer and Nietzsche have examined music as a form of non-linguistic expression that communicates deep truths about existence and human emotion, offering an aesthetic experience that is uniquely accessible through hearing.

Sound and Memory:

Hearing plays a key role in memory. Sounds can evoke strong emotional responses and memories, often more intensely than visual stimuli. Familiar sounds, such as a loved one’s voice or a piece of music, can trigger recollections, suggesting that auditory experiences are deeply tied to personal and collective memory.

This ties into phenomenology, where the experience of hearing is explored as part of how we relate to and recall the past, shaping our understanding of identity and lived experience.

Hearing and Consciousness:

The experience of hearing is closely tied to consciousness. Sound can shift our awareness and attention, sometimes affecting our emotions and thoughts on a subconscious level.

The phenomenology of hearing looks at how auditory experiences contribute to the flow of consciousness. Sound is immediate and often cannot be ignored, meaning it can shape attention and awareness in ways that other senses do not.

Sound, Silence, and Meditation:

Silence is as important as sound in the philosophy of the ears. Philosophers like John Cage have explored the relationship between sound and silence, emphasizing how silence is not merely the absence of sound but a space for reflection and deeper awareness.

In Buddhism and Zen, the practice of deep listening and silence is often used in meditation to focus the mind and cultivate inner peace. Hearing becomes a means of connecting to the present moment, highlighting the ear’s role in spiritual and contemplative practices.

Hearing and the Ethical Dimension:

Hearing has an ethical dimension, particularly in the context of listening. To truly listen to someone involves not just the mechanical process of hearing sounds but being open to understanding and empathizing with the speaker.

Emmanuel Levinas argued that ethical responsibility involves "listening" to the Other—being receptive to their needs, suffering, and presence. The ears are thus not just passive receivers but active participants in interpersonal ethics and moral responsibility.

Hearing and Social Interaction:

Hearing plays a fundamental role in social interactions. The act of listening is essential to communication, collaboration, and understanding within societies. The ear is the organ that allows us to engage with others, participate in dialogue, and form communities.

In this sense, the ears are key to the philosophy of communication, where listening is as important as speaking. Martin Buber's philosophy of dialogue emphasizes the importance of genuine listening in establishing meaningful relationships between individuals.

Ears and the Body-Mind Connection:

The ears serve as a gateway to both intellectual and emotional experiences, illustrating the connection between body and mind. Auditory stimuli can provoke both cognitive processing and visceral emotional reactions, reinforcing the idea that the mind and body are interconnected through sensory perception.

Embodied cognition theories suggest that hearing influences not just our mental states but also our physical interactions with the world, shaping how we navigate and interpret our environment.

Hearing and Power:

Hearing can be associated with issues of power and control, especially in the context of surveillance and modern technology. Sounds can be used to influence or manipulate, whether through propaganda, advertising, or sonic warfare, raising ethical questions about the role of auditory perception in power dynamics.

The politics of hearing also involve issues of accessibility, as people with hearing impairments may experience the world differently, leading to discussions on the societal importance of hearing and the right to access information and communication.

The philosophy of the ears emphasizes the importance of hearing in shaping our perceptions, experiences, and interactions with the world. Hearing is not just a sensory process but a way of engaging with time, language, music, ethics, and consciousness. Whether through the experience of sound, silence, or listening to others, the ears connect us deeply to both the external world and our inner lives.

[breesperez139]

Dc x Dp Prompt #6

“I’m a twin”, Damian said one night. He could feel the narrowed eyes of his family drilling holes on his back in disbelief. Not that he could blame them. Damian had never so much as implied being raised with a companion, much less a sibling.

“I had a brother”. Damian paused to recollect himself. He had not said his brother’s name out loud in over 8 years.

“His name was… Danyal”. Damian hated the way his voice wavered, but he could not help it. Danyal was everything to him, his other half. Their heart beat as one and when one heart stopped beating, the other one died with it. At least until his family put his heart on metaphorical life support without ever realizing.

“Where is he now?” His father asked, voice filled with knowing grief and a hint of betrayal. It had in fact been 6 years since Damian first showed up on his doorstep.

“Up there”. All eyes shifted towards the specific star he was pointing to. “Right before he died, he promised me he’d guide me from the stars. Unfortunately, the stars are not visible in Gotham, so my brother is unable to be of much help unless I leave the city.”

“Your brother is Polaris, the North Star?” Tim questioned warily, most likely in attempts to not offend him. Damian was aware of how stupid it sounded, but Danyal had promised, and his brother never broke his promises.

“Yes. Danyal is with the stars now, just as he always wanted”

[forgettable-au]

CHAPTER TWO | The Scientific Method

FORGETTABLE-AU (page 73-77)

* His brother is annoying.

[BEGINNING] [PREVIOUS] [CONTINUE]

[teh-inggris]

pvp civ nation...... this aint much but pls take my contribution for this series bc im going insane i love hate this man so much get him out of my head

[opens-up-4-nobody]

Grief as a time machine

[iced-souls]

I couldn’t hold the urge back any longer—

I Don’t Want To Be A Magical Girl (by @ kianamaiart)!! It looks very fun and i am ever so intrigued

[kingofthewilderwest]

Viola is the most gorgeous-sounding instrument on the planet, but how I became a violist in music school is one of the dumber sets of circumstances I’ve had in music life. You’ve heard of the violinist to violist pipeline? Get ready for… another level beyond THAT.

Guys, I’m a flautist.

And I’m not, like, a slouch on flute? I’m no queen toot toot but I know which end you blow out of. In high school, I was competitive. Nothing extraordinary, but I did all the honor ensembles and made first chair flute All State Orchestra. Ahhh, the memories! XD

I came into my freshman year of college as a philosophy and linguistics double-major, then quickly realized I NEEEEDED formal music again. I was crawling up the walls. I was writhing on the floors. I was ready to eat wallpaper. I was prepared to do anything to get back into the music world.

So in my sophomore year I added music composition as a degree.

I auditioned in with piano and flute as my mains. In addition to the private composition lessons, I was signed up for private piano lessons (flute slots were limited to people getting a degree in flute - understandable enough).

But then came ensemble requirements. Something you’d think would be the easiest and most flexible thing to take care of. This was a good school. Please, not Curtis or Julliard or a conservatory or something, but a good school. We had LOTS of ensembles. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, grab an ensemble and go, right?

Naw.

To graduate, we had to enroll in one ensemble every semester. You couldn’t double up to complete the requirement faster and it had to be on your primary instrument. I was already at a disadvantage because I was doing the degree in three years. Thankfulllly, thankfully, the administration gave me an exception and allowed me to double up for credits.

Didn’t solve all my issues, though. Because here’s the thing: everyone in the flute studio could play circles around me. A composition major without flute instruction is not going to be able to compete with a performance major learning from some of the best people in the country.

So. By their own rules. I could neither get lessons on my primary nor would I have the chance of auditioning into a single ensemble on my primary.

This meant the only ensemble I could get into was the non-audition, lowest tier band. And because there was marching band during fall semesters, that meant the lowest tier band only met in the spring. So that gave me… 3 out of the 8 ensemble credits I needed on my primary.

And I’m looking at the administration, like, “Dudes, you have to work with me. Not getting my degree because I can’t get a few 1 credit ensemble courses is bat guano.” But my other primary, piano, was even more limited for ensemble credit options. What to do? What to do?

Well. In high school. I had a viola teacher. Sort of. I mean, I dated her. She offered to teach me viola during the summers, I paid her a little cash, and we more often than not paid attention to the viola before paying attention to other matters.

Humorous description aside, we were classmates in the same grade. We just happened to make a viola lesson arrangement within our broader relationship. This wasn't the only time we made such arrangements; I later taught her younger sister flute. And like, lessons were a convenient way to meet regularly without our families cuing in on our non-viola relationship.

We had a nasty falling out. So nasty. We were dumb. I was dumb. Don’t need to get into details. But I got two summers’ worth of viola lessons out of this and I owned a cheap@$$ viola I bought secondhand for $100 USD.

So. With my grand total of less than a year of “formal” [cough] viola instruction, where I could barely aim my bow at the correct string, I suggested This Great Music College should accept viola for my ensemble credits. Then I could enroll in the non-audition orchestra. Which, unlike its band counterpart, DID meet every semester. So, between the 3 ensemble credits for band and the 6 ensemble credits of orchestra, I COULD get my required 8+ credits acquired.

This plan was agreed upon.

So now I’m a flautist officially turned violist. A viola-approximate pestilence they can’t get rid of. Every semester they have to hear my yowling and know this is the grave of their own making. We must lie in it. I am second desk viola, not because of merit, but because I’m a music major, and I guess that meant I got preference. I did their optional chair auditions, they accepted that as "good enough," now here I am near the front. I am not where I should be. At all. Last year I was playing the flute solo of Dvorak's Eighth. Now I'm on Dvorak's Eighth near the front of the violas. What.

My problems were ended, though, right? I got what I wanted, right?

Well. There’s one final stupidity in this venture.

You see..... my “viola teacher.” My ex-partner. My now-turned-enemy. Had also enrolled in this college.

And was our section leader.

[egophiliac]

Hi it's just to let you know that the official romanization of Revaan's name is Raverne ! Also they have romanized Baul's name to Baur !

Twst coming back at us again with the least expected romanization! thank you everybody (oh god my inbox) (no it's great, I literally asked for this and the reactions have been INCREDIBLE, thank you all!)

I do like Raverne though, I think it's got a nice fancy sound to it! (I had kinda suspected it was going to be an R instead of an L, so the fact that it's SO close to Laverne except for that is hilarious to me personally.) and Dragoneye Duke is honestly probably the best translation for his title, I wasn't envying the localizers that one. :') Baur instead of Baul I was NOT expecting, but in retrospect I think his name's supposed to be a reference to the Bauru crocodile, so that actually makes way more sense!

someone else also said Meleanor has become Maleanor, which is the REALLY weird one to me, because I was so surprised it was written as Mel instead of Mal in the first place?! oh god no I can't decide which one I like better. 😭 (I wonder if they might change it to Mal...they have made romanization changes before) (like I remember House of Distraction being corrected to House of Destruction in Playful Land) (I did check and she's still Mel for now, but I dunno, they might Mal her up and some point and save me from having to make a decision about which one to use) (HECK I CAN'T DECIDE)

uhhhh thank you for letting me ramble about anime names, let's just say MONOGRAMMED SWEATERS FOR EVERYONE

[claitea]

n's cute little hum from pokemas has Devastated me

[zivazivc]

started going wall climbing with my brother recently and it's so much fun! i used to do it as a kid but stopped because i was super short, dunno why i never picked it up again...

anyway i kind of imagine these two would do that too, like a fun date, especially in a human au scenario, although i drew them as trolls because i've realized i haven't drawn them much at all

[bunnieswithknives]

Dev this is serious stop beatboxing.

[leodanbrock]

Daft Punk said something to me that blew me away. They said they wanted to do an album as if the internet never existed. I said, "oh, old school!" It was certainly the most rewarding to have been involved in a project that was so monumental to my life. Winning my first Grammy was amazing to me. It's become a great learning experience for me, after Daft Punk. I started playing with much younger artists. No one is my age, I'm 70! Charli XCX, Burna Boy. I just recorded my first k-pop record, and now I've got like five under my belt and they're huge. Life was one way before Random Access Memories and completely different after. — Nile Rodgers

💿📀 Daft Punk — Memory Tapes dir. WARREN FU (2023).

[unforth]

Nothing more quickly shows that on some deep level many tumblrinas think mental illness is always the result of bad parenting than the way people here talk about mental illness in kids.

Because when we talk adults, its all uwu its not your fault, your brain chemicals just hate you, it's a sickness just like diabetes, take your meds. But as soon as kids come up, people reblog posts to the tune of 10ks of notes that say things like all kids behave great as long as their parents actually listen and accommodate them!

And look. I'm gripping your shoulders. I'm staring you in the eye. I am explaining: if you truly believe that mental illness is an actual illness caused by biological factors outside of our control then you must, absolutely must, embrace and understand, that some children will therefore have major, not cute, not simple behavioral issues *that are in no way their parents' fault.*

Please unpack your unexamined nature vs nurture views, I am begging you.

[bigbigtruck]

In the process of archiving & clearing out a lot of my social media, I wound up going through some 10+ year old Tumblr posts. Thanks so much to everyone who enjoyed TJ & Amal while it was running; y'all made this place so fun. Leaving here for a few years meant I lost touch with some of y'all and i regret that.

[yes-no-maybe-soo]

Can't stop thinking about this scene... How he covers her eyes to heighten her other senses, ensuring that the pleasure she feels from the kissing (and the dry humping) is maximized...

[cheerclaw]

I still feel her presence here, but there's something off... I'm starting to forget her.

designs by @doomedcousins slash thylacid bc i dont have my own designs yay