Research Group
in Analytic Philosophy

Abstract

A central puzzle in the metaphysics of music is how to reconcile the thought that musical works are abstract entities (since they’re capable of being instanced in multiple performances) with the idea that they’re also created by composers. If the Goldberg Variations is a timeless or eternal abstract pattern of sounds how did J. S. Bach bring it into existence in 1739? No proposed solution to this puzzle is without problems, and eliminativism about musical works seems extreme. Created abstracta are difficult to live with, but also difficult to live without.

Recently, several philosophers have argued that although there aren’t really musical works, this claim needn’t affect our musical practice, since we can still act and talk (even truthfully) as if musical works exist. I’m attracted to this proposal, but will raise some worries about it.