“Art and music shine a light of meaning on ordinary life, and through them we are able to confront the things that trouble us and to find consolation and peace in their presence.” – Sir Roger Scruton, The Aesthetics of Music
Having worked in the supply chain for 30 years it always impressed on me how the cooperation and coordination of forecasting, planning, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, storing and delivering was the most under appreciated aspect of a well functioning society. The same could be said of the planning, scheduling and delivering of services though the coordination of the various operational aspects are not quite as complex. When a top down planning and directing of the economy overtakes these functions the processes and the threads holding society together rapidly break down.
If only more people understood this! History shows that there is always someone who will promise to fix everything, if only he is given enough power to micromanage everyone. Of course, absent a corresponding gullibility among the general populace, these figures would be laughed at all around, which, alas, is often not how things go.
With my fondness for you work and a desire to understand the big picture , I always come away from reading Mindset Shifts with an appreciation of what I don't know. I have a massive enthusiasm for geopolitics which is satiated by my subscription to Geopolitical Futures and the work of the great George Friedman . Your work adds to my ability to slowly walk towards where truth can be found. You and other people at American Institute for Economic Research often quote F.A.Hayek , so I went and got a copy of The Road To Serfdom. Great Book!!
I strongly agree with the message of this column but at the same time think it's a bit unfair for Mr. Bell to have conducted his experiment at the entrance to a subway station. There are, after all, times when it's appropriate to put one's head down to stay focused on getting a task done expeditiously, and making a subway connection might be an example.
I remember reading a passage in a book by Krishnamurti where he's describing conversing with a fellow passenger during a flight over the Himalayas. The other guy was babbling endlessly about the importance of awareness, but never looked out the window to behold the beautiful scenery below. That passage has stuck with me as a perfect example of how easy it is to go wrong by over-intellectualizing, and we humans have a chronic tendency to use our outsized brains to run off on endless, pointless (or even destructive) intellectual chases.
I agree, my thoughts also compassed the idea that people are used to the subway players, who are mostly there to make money. AND that most people can't tell a $50 violin from a million dollar violin because they haven't developed the ear for it. As well as the fact that most people couldn't tell you hardly who Bach was, much less which concerto, and whether the passage is moving or not. So, "pretty music" at best, and "I don't like the high whiny sound of fiddles" at worst.
Unless we/our children are exposed to various music styles and learn about them from a young age (loss of music classes in elementary secondary schools at fault there, as well as parents) we/they are not going to know these classics and certainly not going to appreciate them. Music is vital for developing various parts of the brain which help with Math among other things, and that lack of good music is likely part of the declining math scores across the US.
A very thought provoking post Barry. The story of your twins brought back a great memory. Janet and I took Rosanna, just a few months old, to an open air concert at Leeds Castle in Kent, the most south easterly county of England, in 1989. Part of the concert was the Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture. Rosanna sat in her baby bouncer seat, absolutely enthralled, and people were coming up and taking photos of her. One elderly gentleman said, 'Mark my words, your daughter will become a musician.' How perceptive and prophetic. Rosanna was indeed very musical, with the harp being her principal instrument, studying at the famous Chethams School of Music, followed by her first degree at the RNCM in Manchester and then going to the USA to study for her Masters and Doctorate at Eastman. She has been in the USA for 12 years now, teaching and performing on both the east and west coasts (currently at Lake George Music Festival). She's about to come back to Europe to take up a teaching post at the TU Conservatoire in Dublin but has performances booked ahead for the next two years in the USA.
With regard to how people find it so easy to shut things of beauty out of their minds, I find to be quite concerning. Spontaneity and appreciation of all the good things in life, which are often 'free', is a gift that we shut out of our lives at great cost to our spirituality and peace of mind. It is of huge sadness to me that so many seem to behave like automatons and miss out on so much.
“Art and music shine a light of meaning on ordinary life, and through them we are able to confront the things that trouble us and to find consolation and peace in their presence.” – Sir Roger Scruton, The Aesthetics of Music
Beautiful quote, Dar! Thank you for sharing.
Having worked in the supply chain for 30 years it always impressed on me how the cooperation and coordination of forecasting, planning, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, storing and delivering was the most under appreciated aspect of a well functioning society. The same could be said of the planning, scheduling and delivering of services though the coordination of the various operational aspects are not quite as complex. When a top down planning and directing of the economy overtakes these functions the processes and the threads holding society together rapidly break down.
Exactly, and sadly and alarmingly, so few understand this.
If only more people understood this! History shows that there is always someone who will promise to fix everything, if only he is given enough power to micromanage everyone. Of course, absent a corresponding gullibility among the general populace, these figures would be laughed at all around, which, alas, is often not how things go.
Thank you for these observations that have made me take a breath and slow down my daily routine.
Valerie, I'm glad my work impacted you. Thanks for sharing!
With my fondness for you work and a desire to understand the big picture , I always come away from reading Mindset Shifts with an appreciation of what I don't know. I have a massive enthusiasm for geopolitics which is satiated by my subscription to Geopolitical Futures and the work of the great George Friedman . Your work adds to my ability to slowly walk towards where truth can be found. You and other people at American Institute for Economic Research often quote F.A.Hayek , so I went and got a copy of The Road To Serfdom. Great Book!!
Kind regards Paul w Jackson.
Paul, I am touched by your kind note! Thank you.
My two part into to Hayek's classic book:
https://mindsetshifts.substack.com/p/are-we-near-the-end-of-the-road-to
https://mindsetshifts.substack.com/p/are-we-near-the-end-of-the-road-to-665
I strongly agree with the message of this column but at the same time think it's a bit unfair for Mr. Bell to have conducted his experiment at the entrance to a subway station. There are, after all, times when it's appropriate to put one's head down to stay focused on getting a task done expeditiously, and making a subway connection might be an example.
I remember reading a passage in a book by Krishnamurti where he's describing conversing with a fellow passenger during a flight over the Himalayas. The other guy was babbling endlessly about the importance of awareness, but never looked out the window to behold the beautiful scenery below. That passage has stuck with me as a perfect example of how easy it is to go wrong by over-intellectualizing, and we humans have a chronic tendency to use our outsized brains to run off on endless, pointless (or even destructive) intellectual chases.
Thanks for the evocative story, JdL!
I agree, my thoughts also compassed the idea that people are used to the subway players, who are mostly there to make money. AND that most people can't tell a $50 violin from a million dollar violin because they haven't developed the ear for it. As well as the fact that most people couldn't tell you hardly who Bach was, much less which concerto, and whether the passage is moving or not. So, "pretty music" at best, and "I don't like the high whiny sound of fiddles" at worst.
Unless we/our children are exposed to various music styles and learn about them from a young age (loss of music classes in elementary secondary schools at fault there, as well as parents) we/they are not going to know these classics and certainly not going to appreciate them. Music is vital for developing various parts of the brain which help with Math among other things, and that lack of good music is likely part of the declining math scores across the US.
maestro Bell's interpretations are Divine...alas, Philistines have stormed the Citadel
👏👏👏👏🙏🏻🥰Thank you for the reminder to not get lost in thought when there is beauty all around us!
Wisdom indeed.
Thank you Barry.
Warmly ... John
Thankyou Barry that was inspiring!
Cara, I appreciate the kind note!
A very thought provoking post Barry. The story of your twins brought back a great memory. Janet and I took Rosanna, just a few months old, to an open air concert at Leeds Castle in Kent, the most south easterly county of England, in 1989. Part of the concert was the Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture. Rosanna sat in her baby bouncer seat, absolutely enthralled, and people were coming up and taking photos of her. One elderly gentleman said, 'Mark my words, your daughter will become a musician.' How perceptive and prophetic. Rosanna was indeed very musical, with the harp being her principal instrument, studying at the famous Chethams School of Music, followed by her first degree at the RNCM in Manchester and then going to the USA to study for her Masters and Doctorate at Eastman. She has been in the USA for 12 years now, teaching and performing on both the east and west coasts (currently at Lake George Music Festival). She's about to come back to Europe to take up a teaching post at the TU Conservatoire in Dublin but has performances booked ahead for the next two years in the USA.
With regard to how people find it so easy to shut things of beauty out of their minds, I find to be quite concerning. Spontaneity and appreciation of all the good things in life, which are often 'free', is a gift that we shut out of our lives at great cost to our spirituality and peace of mind. It is of huge sadness to me that so many seem to behave like automatons and miss out on so much.
Peter, Thanks for adding your wisdom. How wonderful to read of Rosanna's continued success and that she will be closer to you and your wife!
I bet those 7 people were violinists.
This essay gives me the confidence to play my lousy guitar in a similar setting.
Wisdom indeed.
Thank you Barry.
Warmly ... John
Wisdom indeed. Thank you Barry. Warmly ... John