Med Schopenhauer gennem musikkens døre

摘要

The following thesis is integrated in Philosophy & Science Studies and History and is based upon the intention of trying to put the German 19th century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer's ideas of music into a different context, that of the music of the counterculture from the late 1960s. This enquiry is based upon the use of source material from magazines like the Danish underground magazine Superlove and its British counterpart International Times amongst others. Record reviews, interviews with musicians and other articles that can shine a light upon the use and importance of music as a means to the experience that Schopenhauer calls the aesthetic contemplation. The aesthetic contemplation is described by Schopenhauer to be the momentary release from the sufferings of life brought on by the everpresent Will. When listening to music or enjoying beautiful art one might experience a moment of dissolution of the ego, where time and space vanish leaving only a feeling of fusion with the art piece being contemplated.By using this philosophy of music in connection to the rock music of the late 1960s, primarily from the United State of America, England and Denmark, I've intended to try to find out whether Schopenhauers thoughts are hopelessly outdated or if it still can be used either in its entirety or partially. After searching through aforementioned source material this thesis is brought to the conclusion that some of Schopenhauer's thoughts are clashing with the rock music of the late 1960s, because of the philosophy being challenged by new views of music in generel and by the use of narcotics which influenced the environment around music and in particular the rock music scene because of the emergence of the psychedelic rock music. However, overall I believe that Schopenhauer's ideas of music as the most immediate art form has the ability to bring people into a different and transcendent state of mind, which I believe has been made clear that the rock music of the late 1960s was very much capable of doing.