RE: [tuning] On realism and continuity

Pierre Lamonthe wrote,

>Continuity is a mind fiction. Nothing in known universe is continous, but
>it remains true that a limited validity domain of reality may correspond to
>our continuous fiction. Sure, in the order of Avogadro's number, validity
>domain is very large, but at human informational scale we have to be
>seriously questioning to avoid naïve representation.

What do you mean? Do you want to discuss quantum mechanics? I'd be happy to
-- maybe offlist.

>More, there is no solid reason to think that space or time are continuous
>substratum. In my opinion, apparent continuity of consciouness and lived
>duration are also fiction. It's not non-existent. It's secreted by mind.
>All that seems very far of music but I think that musical phenomenon is
>bound with time perception and continuity secretion.

Whatever the philosophy, one has to contend with the observation that
consonance is a continous function of interval size. People may disagree as
to how "pointy" the curve is as the simple ratios, but I've certainly never
experiences anything like a discontinuity in consonance as interval size is
changed continuously.

Pierre Lamothe wrote:

> [Paul wrote (Aug 22) :]
>
> << It is, at this point, a dyadid discordance measure, which certainly
> conforms to Pierre Lamothe's partial ordering for simple ratios, but is a
> realistic, continuous function that is well-defined for all intervals,
> simple ratios or otherwise. >>
>
> I understand well the meaning of this remark. I won't comment at this level
> but only by way of digression on association of terms : realistic and
> continous. I want to express that it's slightly discordant in my
> (philosophical) ear.
>
> Continuity is a mind fiction. Nothing in known universe is continous, but
> it remains true that a limited validity domain of reality may correspond to
> our continuous fiction.

Water continues to be wet, just as time continues.

--
* D a v i d B e a r d s l e y
* 49/32 R a d i o "all microtonal, all the time"
* http://www.virtulink.com/immp/lookhere.htm