Association Theory of Meaning: A Reconstruction of the Literature

Abstract

Scruton and Hanslick hold that music has no meaning. It is shown that art, including music does have meaning in a way similar to the way in which language has meaning. The traditional mentalistic theory of meaning is replaced by a nonmentalistic association theory. Art has associations and so serves as a language. Association tells us about art and art tells us about the associations we make. It is shown how this theory answers such questions as whether or not art gives knowledge, makes us moral, expresses emotions, etc. Music is seen to be linguistic, and language, musical.