On forms and content in a musical sense
by ivy roberts
On Truths and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense by Friedrich Nietzsche focuses on Nietzsche’s
attempt to explain the origin of humanity’s understanding of truths and lies. The formation of
concepts is a large part of his essay and can be related to pop culture by the concept of music.
Nietzsche’s essay at a time focusses on the formation of concepts. Concepts, by
definition, are abstract ideas or general notions. Concepts, according to Nietzsche, are categories
in which the brain can systematically group similar objects, even though the object is unique and
individualized. He believes that a word becomes a concept when the word has to fit numerous
more or less similar cases, and does not become a concept instantly as a reminder to which the
concept owes its origin. We obtain the concept the same way we obtain the form. We overlook
what is individual and actual.
Leaves are used as the example to make sense of Nietzsche’s point on concepts. We all
know that one leaf never is exactly the same as the next. Leaves can vary in types, colors, shapes,
patterns, sizes, and more. Since all leaves are different, the concept of a “leaf” is formed by
throwing away distinguishing aspects of that leaf and grouping it with various other leaves. As a
group, we do not point out the uniqueness of each leaf in the pile; we just collectively refer to
them as leaves.
Music is very important in today’s society. It is the perfect way to get away from your
problems and spend time with your favorite band. Of course, not everyone likes the same types
of music. Music comes in various forms and can be broken down into different genres and
different styles of music inside that genre. Different genres of music include rock, pop, classical,
and more. From there, the genres can be broken down even further by different musical styles
inside that genre. For example, rock can be broken down into hair metal, classic, and British
Invasion, pop into bubblegum, teen, and dance, and classic into opera, impressionist, and
renaissance. These songs can be broken down into different artists and even remixes or covers.
Even though there are so many ways to categorize music, when asked, “What are you listening
to?” we rarely ever respond with, “Rock in the form of classic rock by Tom Petty,”— we simply
respond with the concept “music.”
“We obtain the concept, as we do the form, by overlooking what is individual and
actual…” By “overlooking what is individual and actual”, Nietzsche believes that the idea of
concepts are too vague. This leads me to believe that Nietzsche would likely be against the
categorization of music because the concept of “music” can never be equal with all types of
music, it can only be similar. I disagree with Nietzsche’s view on concepts. I like concepts
because they make things much simpler. Without concepts things would be too complicated and
nearly impossible to organize.
attempt to explain the origin of humanity’s understanding of truths and lies. The formation of
concepts is a large part of his essay and can be related to pop culture by the concept of music.
Nietzsche’s essay at a time focusses on the formation of concepts. Concepts, by
definition, are abstract ideas or general notions. Concepts, according to Nietzsche, are categories
in which the brain can systematically group similar objects, even though the object is unique and
individualized. He believes that a word becomes a concept when the word has to fit numerous
more or less similar cases, and does not become a concept instantly as a reminder to which the
concept owes its origin. We obtain the concept the same way we obtain the form. We overlook
what is individual and actual.
Leaves are used as the example to make sense of Nietzsche’s point on concepts. We all
know that one leaf never is exactly the same as the next. Leaves can vary in types, colors, shapes,
patterns, sizes, and more. Since all leaves are different, the concept of a “leaf” is formed by
throwing away distinguishing aspects of that leaf and grouping it with various other leaves. As a
group, we do not point out the uniqueness of each leaf in the pile; we just collectively refer to
them as leaves.
Music is very important in today’s society. It is the perfect way to get away from your
problems and spend time with your favorite band. Of course, not everyone likes the same types
of music. Music comes in various forms and can be broken down into different genres and
different styles of music inside that genre. Different genres of music include rock, pop, classical,
and more. From there, the genres can be broken down even further by different musical styles
inside that genre. For example, rock can be broken down into hair metal, classic, and British
Invasion, pop into bubblegum, teen, and dance, and classic into opera, impressionist, and
renaissance. These songs can be broken down into different artists and even remixes or covers.
Even though there are so many ways to categorize music, when asked, “What are you listening
to?” we rarely ever respond with, “Rock in the form of classic rock by Tom Petty,”— we simply
respond with the concept “music.”
“We obtain the concept, as we do the form, by overlooking what is individual and
actual…” By “overlooking what is individual and actual”, Nietzsche believes that the idea of
concepts are too vague. This leads me to believe that Nietzsche would likely be against the
categorization of music because the concept of “music” can never be equal with all types of
music, it can only be similar. I disagree with Nietzsche’s view on concepts. I like concepts
because they make things much simpler. Without concepts things would be too complicated and
nearly impossible to organize.