Publication Type:
Journal Article
Source:
The Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Volume 88, Issue 2, p.191-207 (2010)
Keywords:
music;
emotion;
empathy;
expressivity;
expression;
simulation;
empathy
Abstract:
This paper examines the causal basis of our ability to attribute emotions to music, developing and synthesising the existing arousal, resemblance and persona theories of musical expressivity to do so. The principle claim is that music hijacks the simulation mechanism of the brain which has evolved to detect one’s own and other peoples’ emotions.
