The more efficient causes of progress seem to consist of a good education during youth whilst the brain is impressible, and of a high standard of excellence, inculcated by the ablest and best men, embodied in the laws, customs and traditions of the nation, and enforced by public opinion. It should, however, be borne in mind, that the enforcement of public opinion depends on our appreciation of the approbation and disapprobation of others; and this appreciation is founded on our sympathy, which it can hardly be doubted was originally developed through natural selection as one of the most important elements of the social instincts.
Professors do not like the word: The minority of clear thinkers complain that it admits of no definition that takes in all of its meanings, and the moral tongue-clickers (much the majority) think the term sullied by those generations when the West, or so they are assured, sought to impose its “civilization” upon others with the Maxim gun.
“Stuff!” cries John Armstrong. He will raise the principle of civilization up again to glory, and guide us to felicity in so doing. To Armstrong, civilization is necessary for the good life, and the good life consists of the elegant enjoyment of life’s good things, while the good society is produced by wealth and taste. Armstrong’s, then, is a philosophical Gospel of Wealth, and so a rather surprising irruption into common sense by a contemporary professor of philosophy—even one who has dealt in classic Italian automobiles.
...
A laswegian contrarian in the tradition of Adam Smith, Armstrong scorns this deep-rooted suspicion of money. Civilization, says he, is essential for humans to flourish, and civilization consists of mutually vivifying material and spiritual prosperity. Beautiful things are essential to the good life, and so also the means to get them: There is nothing morally corrosive in comfort. We are not to be ashamed of our fat bank accounts, of our books and sculptures—or of our classic Italian automobiles. Freedom is necessary and capitalism good because they allow us these things; and the left’s aversion to capitalism is driven chiefly by snobbery. Still, consumption without taste is careless of beauty (witness the contemporary art market) or even destructive of beauty (witness modernist architecture). The past, the arts and humanities, should be our guides to the right use of our wealth, to what we should and should not desire. Shame, then, on the professors, who have confined the arts and humanities to the oubliettes of academic departments and who, by teaching their students only their own brand of micro-scholarship, have sundered the bond that properly exists between great art and books and public taste.
Read the full text here. Being an Aristotelian, I am suspicious of the notion that capitalism is not only necessary, but good-- but is that just the core's influence? Is happiness in the modern world contingent on money? Can one be intellectually and morally fulfilled and financially successful? Leave any comments below.
Professor of music and lecturer for the core Roye E. Wates recently published a book covering the reality and fiction surrounding Mozart, titled Mozart: An Introduction to the Music, the Man and the Myths. Wicked Local interviewed Professor Wates on the book, and it sheds some insight into how Amadeus may be more hurtful than helpful to the reality of Mozart and his father's relationship to him:
Wates says the book was needed because there’s so much misinformation about Mozart, in part because of the popular film “Amadeus.” In both the book and our conversation, Wates makes it clear that the music world owes a debt of gratitude to Mozart’s father, Leopold Mozart, a brilliant man who home-schooled Mozart, “engaged his son’s imagination,” and devoted himself to the career of his child genius.
...
If you recommended one of Mozart’s operas to a first-time listener, which one would it be and why?
One of two. In my own teaching, “Don Giovanni” makes an immediate and powerful impact. You don’t have to know about opera to enjoy it. The story is about Don Juan. Every woman has had to deal with a Don Juan, and every man wants to be one. So there’s a connection to this fascinating mythological character. And Mozart’s portrayal of him is irresistibly charming, and at the same time terrifying. And, interestingly, the lead character has no arias that explain who he is. Some people regard that as a flaw. Others say that’s perfect; he’s a mystery man.
My other recommendation is “The Abduction from the Seraglio.” I taught it one year, and it turned out to be a really good introduction to what opera is about. The music is beautiful, and it’s very touching at the end.
If you were on a desert island and you could only have one piece of Mozart music, what would it be?
“The Marriage of Figaro.” (Pause) And the Mass in C Minor. Both of those have a good deal of Mozart’s pastoral music, which I believe was his most distinctive personal idiom. The way Mozart wrote pastoral music was unlike any other, except Bach. It’s so powerful and so moving that I’m not sure I could live without it.
You can read the full story here. Is Amadeus doing more harm than good? Or is a bit of over-dramatization okay if it drums up interest? Feel free to comment below.
Core Lectures this week:
CC102: Prof. Jorgensen on Dante's Paradiso 4/26
CC106: Prof. Finnerty on Human genetic and phenotypic diversity. 4/26
CC106: Prof. Finnerty on How did biodiversity shape the outcome of the clash of civilizations? 4/28
CC202: Debra Cash on Modern Dance 4/26
CC204: Prof. Barfield on Inequality, Equality & Hierarchy in Historical Anthropological Perspective. 4/28
-The Core Digital Project:
Sophomores! This is your last chance to contribute to the Core Digital Project! Stop by the Core office to sign out a Flip Video camera. Give us your best 2-4 minute take and return the camera and file to the office. Submit by April 27. The makers of the top 2 video clips will each win a Flip Video camera. Edited versions of the files will be shown at the Core Banquet on May 4.
This Saturday, April 30. Enjoy a day trip to see Walden Pond, the Minuteman Trail and have lunch in Concord. $5 for lunch and the van ride. There are 6 spots left. Sign up in CAS 119. Meet at CAS 119 at 10:30 AM (sharp!). We'll return to Boston by 4:30 PM.
Sophomores! The Core Banquet is on Wednesday, May 4 at 6 PM in the Photonics Center. Please make sure to RSVP your menu choice (Statler Herb-Marinated Chicken or Butternut Squash Ravioli) and T-shirt size to core@bu.edu by Wednesday, April 27th.
The newest song which the singers have, they will be afraid that he may be praising, not new songs, but a new kind of song; and this ought not to be praised, or conceived to be the meaning of the poet; for any musical innovation is full of danger to the whole State, and ought to be prohibited. So Damon tells me, and I can quite believe him;-he says that when modes of music change, of the State always change with them.
- Plato, The Republic (Book IV), translator Benjamin Jowett
Nicolas Porter (CAS '14), a student in Prof. Kalt's CC102 seminar, was part of the choir featured in the video above. Nicholas writes:
The song is entitled "We Beheld Once Again The Stars," by Z. Randall Stroope. It was performed by the 2009 Massachusetts All State Chorus in Boston's Symphony Hall, which I was a part of at this time. It is a brilliant piece inspired by Dante's divine comedy. There are three distinct parts of the song, each one based on different parts of the story. The song is difficult to perform because it requires that the chorus be separated into two groups to learn separate parts before being brought together to construct the correct chords and harmonies. Really one of my favorite pieces, if not my absolute favorite piece that I've ever performed in my life. Brilliantly written and conducted."
The Core Blog is a hub for information and media related to the CAS Core Curriculum at Boston University. It will be updated regularly, with photo galleries, interviews, links to related reading online, news of events or activities, and other kinds of content that help connect our Core people—prospective, current, and former students—with each other.
You can stop by here once a week to scroll through the posts, or make this your homepage in order to keep your finger on the pulse of the Core. Either way, we hope you find this to be a pleasant way to strengthen your connection with the great people, the great books, and the great questions we encounter in the Core.
