Intention, Action and the Philosophy of Art: New Boundaries in a Theory of Action

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Beethoven's Dolce : interpretation, performance, and description - The case of music

Publication . Eckerson, Sara Ellen; Tamen, Miguel Bénard da Costa

This dissertation aims to describe the role of Beethoven’s dolce indications in the staves of a musical score. We will thus explore Beethoven’s dolce in contexts of theoretical interpretation, performance, and critical descriptions of meaning in music. We first will examine performance practice and Beethoven’s dolce indications in a symphonic setting (Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica”) and in piano sonatas. We will highlight historical and current performance practice to find grounds for the unique way Beethoven uses expressive indications (for example, dolce, cantabile, and espressivo) in the staff. The second part of this dissertation will investigate nineteenth century hermeneutics and Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher’s hermeneutic theory to show the resonances between the critical activity of interpreting texts and the activity of interpreting and performing music. In the final part of this dissertation, we will discuss a critical method developed by the theorist, pedagogue, and music historian Adolf Bernhard Marx (1795-1866). Marx determines this critical method in the context of how to explicate meaning in instrumental music, which is namely through simile, symbolism, and psychological coherence. We will conclude this dissertation by describing the importance of material considerations in A. B. Marx’s theory of a musical Idee. Furthermore, we will comment on the role of the Idee as a bridge between the material considerations required for performance practice and the “spiritual” activity that is needed to explore deeper meaning in music.

2016-06-28Doctoral thesis

Open access

Uma teoria da colecção

Publication . Rodrigues, Alda Alexandra Pastor Barreto Sarmento; Tamen, Miguel, 1960-; Figueiredo, João, 1970-

Nesta tese tenta-se rever alguns lugares-comuns associados aos tópicos dos coleccionadores, das colecções e da actividade de coleccionar, nomeadamente as ideias de que as colecções se situam numa dimensão desligada da vida e de que os coleccionadores são criaturas bizarras e perigosas. A abordagem privilegiada procura, pelo contrário, avaliar a integração das colecções na vida dos coleccionadores e perceber em que medida o estudo da actividade de coleccionar nos pode ajudar a descrever e compreender melhor outras actividades humanas.

2015Doctoral thesis

Open access

Ricardo Reis, 1887-1936

Publication . Amado, Nuno Miguel Pascoal; Feijó, António M.; Tamen, Miguel

Ricardo Reis é geralmente considerado um poeta clássico, ao qual compete verter para português as odes latinas de Horácio, repetindo-lhes a dicção e os preceitos, e um poeta, por conseguinte, tão diferente quanto possível dos outros dois heterónimos de Pessoa. Esta tese procura demonstrar que tais considerações são nocivas à compreensão de Ricardo Reis, na sua qualidade principal de heterónimo de Fernando Pessoa. O poeta que é (enquanto parte de um conjunto maior no qual desempenha um papel próprio) deve ser entendido em relação aos poetas que os outros heterónimos são, mais concretamente em relação a Alberto Caeiro, cuja influência e admiração não deve ser menosprezada.

2016-11-11Doctoral thesis

Open access

The absence of indifference

Publication . Arruda, Alberto Miguel Antunes; Tamen, Miguel Bénard da Costa

This thesis addresses the concept of indifference and its moral implications – indifference to other people, indifference to ourselves and indifference to what is around us. The thesis begins with an argument that considers the connections between the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of action, attempting to lay bare, and therefore avoid, the pitfalls of reductionist tendencies. The argument is then expanded to the topic of political philosophy, showing the heritage of this reductionist thinking as a form of personal elimination present in some political theories. At this point, the argument turns to the assessment of the moral importance of reciprocity, analyzing such notions as to accuse someone, to confess before someone, to forgive someone and to help someone.

2016-04-28Doctoral thesis

Open access