Critically evaluate Pinker's claim that music is auditory cheesecake
Critically evaluate Pinker 's claim that music is auditory cheesecake:
Pinker’s metaphorical expression for music was “auditory cheesecake”, explaining that he considered this function “useless[as a biological adaptation]” (Pinker 1997, p.528). Perhaps avid listeners comfort feed their minds with acoustic cheesecake, but musical knowledge presents the impact of such sweetness goes far beyond just licking the spoon. Extracting Pinker’s perspective, this essay will discuss whether music is valuable in the survival of humans. Arguments will be derived from brain imaging findings to examine its biological predisposition, adaptionist view to seek out its evolutionary status and whether the environment is responsible for demoting music.
Patel (2010), mediates the argument between Pinker 's provocative claim and ethnomusicologists. Patel (2010) agrees with Pinker, calling it a “human invention”, but disagrees for its lack of importance(Patel 2010, p.2). Interaction with music during ones lifetime allows changes to occur in the neural system, thus accommodating for music, terming it: “Transformative Technology of the Mind(TTM)” (Patel 2010, p.2). In support of TTM, brain imaging studies pinpointed that “Brocas area” is responsible for cognitive hierarchal functions(Koelsch, 2011, p.7). Hierarchal functions govern behaviour that are produced via structural rules. Quite possibly, Gestalts principles (Proximity, Similarity, Closure and Continuation) could be the framework for Hierarchal structure since all features are a fitting template for visual perception. Still, for “musical wholes” it is more selective(Tan, 2010, p.7). Nonetheless, all cognitive functions attempt to achieve a meaningful whole, regardless of the route taken. Many studies found Hierarchy apparent in language, music, action and mathematical ability(Koelsch, 2011). Therefore it is unsurprising researchers find that music enhances “language, attention, auditory scene analysis and so forth”, because
Pinker’s metaphorical expression for music was “auditory cheesecake”, explaining that he considered this function “useless[as a biological adaptation]” (Pinker 1997, p.528). Perhaps avid listeners comfort feed their minds with acoustic cheesecake, but musical knowledge presents the impact of such sweetness goes far beyond just licking the spoon. Extracting Pinker’s perspective, this essay will discuss whether music is valuable in the survival of humans. Arguments will be derived from brain imaging findings to examine its biological predisposition, adaptionist view to seek out its evolutionary status and whether the environment is responsible for demoting music.
Patel (2010), mediates the argument between Pinker 's provocative claim and ethnomusicologists. Patel (2010) agrees with Pinker, calling it a “human invention”, but disagrees for its lack of importance(Patel 2010, p.2). Interaction with music during ones lifetime allows changes to occur in the neural system, thus accommodating for music, terming it: “Transformative Technology of the Mind(TTM)” (Patel 2010, p.2). In support of TTM, brain imaging studies pinpointed that “Brocas area” is responsible for cognitive hierarchal functions(Koelsch, 2011, p.7). Hierarchal functions govern behaviour that are produced via structural rules. Quite possibly, Gestalts principles (Proximity, Similarity, Closure and Continuation) could be the framework for Hierarchal structure since all features are a fitting template for visual perception. Still, for “musical wholes” it is more selective(Tan, 2010, p.7). Nonetheless, all cognitive functions attempt to achieve a meaningful whole, regardless of the route taken. Many studies found Hierarchy apparent in language, music, action and mathematical ability(Koelsch, 2011). Therefore it is unsurprising researchers find that music enhances “language, attention, auditory scene analysis and so forth”, because