Destructuring Cartesian Dualism in Musical Analysis

The following study represents work-in-progress. In this preliminary study I will explore the topic of subject-object dualism as it arises in musical analysis. My work is strongly influenced by Martin Heidegger’s “fundamental ontology,” which he presents in his important philosophical work, Being and Time [1927]. I will argue that Heidegger’s critique of Rene Descartes’ systematic reduction of intellectual certainty to a fundamental “first fact of knowledge”—the famous cogito, ergo sum —offers us a useful guide in the consideration of dualism as it occurs in musical analysis. Heidegger’s notion of destructuring ( Destruktion ) will prove to be especially valuable in investigating this problem. The exploration of subject-object dualism will then lead to consideration of musical understanding and musical meaning, and concepts derived from the writings of Heidegger and Hans-Georg Gadamer will be employed as I suggest a number of preliminary solutions to problems that will arise in the discussion of these issues.