from Phil Runkel on 23 May 00.
Dear friends:
Suppose I work out a plan to go visit my friend the trombonist so
that I can hear that beautiful mellow note once again. The plan
is essentially a program that I follow for the purpose of getting
to the goal of enjoying that wonderful sensation. So I am
operating at the level of program to specify sensings of
intensities (go in the daytime), sensations (feel the steering
wheel), configurations (look at the garage door), transitions
(back out), and so on to get me to my friend's house, where I
will sit and turn my ears toward his trombone.
Somehow I have the notion that the reference signal providing the
overriding goal for all that ought to reside at least at program,
if not principle. My goal is the sensation, but I can't reach
that goal by altering goals at a level below sensation! So I
must have a goal of putting myself in position to hear that
trombone.
Maybe my goal is not just sensation; maybe it is something
"higher" than that. But I don't know how to think about it.
I feel as if I am in a maze with no compass. Why am I feeling
that my clutch is slipping?
--Phil R.
[From Bill Powers (2000.05.23.2011 MDT)]
Phil Runkel on 23 May 00 --
Suppose I work out a plan to go visit my friend the trombonist so
that I can hear that beautiful mellow note once again. The plan
is essentially a program that I follow for the purpose of getting
to the goal of enjoying that wonderful sensation.
Yes, so the hierarchy seems to stand on its head and the foundations of
HPCT become unsteady.
But how many ways are there to hear that trombone sound?
Level 1: Something happening, or nothing? Something.
Level 2: What kind of something? A sound.
Level 3: What shape of sound? Trombone.
Level 4: What dynamics? Moderate tremolo, swoop and slide, converge on
exactly the right note.
Level 5: First creamy glissando: A rising to B-flat.
Level 6: Relationship: A is natural 7th relative to B-flat.
Level 7: What category? Song: "Getting Sentimental" (name of song) and
"Tommy Dorsey" (name of player) instantly come to mind (well, some more
mature minds).
Level 8: Continued sequence of notes: The tune. [is sequence below
category???]
Level 9: Logic of harmony: resolved dissonance, ascending to natural 7th, etc.
Level 10: Principles: Smoothness and clarity, beauty and mellowness
Level 11: My Kind of Music.
So what were you worried about again?
Best,
Bill P.
Phil Runkel on 24 May 00 replying to WTPowers's reply of 2000.05.23.2011.
Thanks very much for your entertaining reply. I think I can think that
through.