Submitted by jsdubois015 on Sat, 03/06/2010 - 14:55
He that hawks at larks and sparrows, has no less sport, though a much less considerable quarry, than he that flies at nobler game: and he is little acquainted with the subject of this treatise, the understanding, who does not know, that as it is the most elevated faculty of the soul, so it is employed with a greater, and more constant delight, than any of the other. Its searches after truth, are a sort of hawking and hunting, wherein the very pursuit makes a great part of the pleasure. - John Locke
The above quote comes from an eloquent passage in John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding in which he describes the pursuit of knowledge as being just as enjoyable, if not more so, than the goal attained. I thought of this today while looking over some music. Lately, I've noticed that when I study a piece of music, I constantly feel like I'm missing some basic piece of the puzzle. If I look at the harmony, I see the figured bass, the root movements, the contrapuntal lines, but what is the meaning? If I look at the form, I wonder, what gave it shape? I believe I'm trying to tie everything together, but what that result is I do not know. But, the pursuit is the greater part of the pleasure.
In Pursuit
Submitted by jsdubois015 on Sat, 03/06/2010 - 14:55
He that hawks at larks and sparrows, has no less sport, though a much less considerable quarry, than he that flies at nobler game: and he is little acquainted with the subject of this treatise, the understanding, who does not know, that as it is the most elevated faculty of the soul, so it is employed with a greater, and more constant delight, than any of the other. Its searches after truth, are a sort of hawking and hunting, wherein the very pursuit makes a great part of the pleasure. - John Locke
The above quote comes from an eloquent passage in John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding in which he describes the pursuit of knowledge as being just as enjoyable, if not more so, than the goal attained. I thought of this today while looking over some music. Lately, I've noticed that when I study a piece of music, I constantly feel like I'm missing some basic piece of the puzzle. If I look at the harmony, I see the figured bass, the root movements, the contrapuntal lines, but what is the meaning? If I look at the form, I wonder, what gave it shape? I believe I'm trying to tie everything together, but what that result is I do not know. But, the pursuit is the greater part of the pleasure.