Abstract
This article proposes to establish and critique connections between religious and musico-aesthetic conceptions of in-effability by exploring the link between neoplatonic thought and romantic aesthetics. The central thesis is that recourse to the ineffable is often made by resorting to theological tenets and, consequently, that romantic aesthetics, although desperately trying to disengage itself from theological thinking, can in fact be interpreted as being inextricably bound up with it. Taking Plotinus’ conception of the relationship between the “One” and “Intellect” as model, the romantic conception of the absolute is revealed to be a fallacy. It is shown that claims of the ineffability of music not only locate music as a false absolute, but also confer on music a quasi-religious authority. This results in an ungrounded secular faith in the power of music and the mastery of its composer-god to lead mankind to the truth. Untangling the myths of ineffability leads the way to a detranscendentalised conception of music with performance at its centre.
Highlights
Hierdie artikel poog om konneksies tussen religieuse en musiek-estetiese beskouings oor die onsegbare uit te wys en te kritiseer, deur die gebruik van die term in onderskeidelik neoplatoniese en romantiese denke te ondersoek
Suggest that the relationship between ineffability and religion can be observed in ways apart from direct appeals to the ineffability of God. According to one such argument by Moore (2003), the link between ineffability and religion can be explored by acknowledging that attempts to put states of ineffable knowledge into words very often result in a language that has significant religious resonances (Moore, 2003:167): The temptation to treat ineffable states of knowledge as effable is of a piece with the urge which we humans have to transcend some of our most basic limitations
Even though knowledge of God is not the only ineffable state of knowledge, the temptation to translate any ineffable state of knowledge into words, like our experience of colour or music, often goes along with “images of unlimitedness and infinitude” (Moore, 2003:167)
Summary
The concept of the ineffable was born in ancient Greek philosophy of religion and has been closely associated with religious thought ever since. This association might be said to rest solely on the fact that the ineffable as concept holds a central place in religious discourse. It was, after all, in writing about the One, the absolute God, that Plotinus developed the first detailed theory of the ineffable.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
