Brandon Bell
Contributing Writer
Phi Sigma Tau, the philosophy honors society on campus, and the department of philosophy will host a public lecture by Dr. Jenefer Robinson on Tuesday, April 19. Robinson will be discussing the various ways in which music is related to, and is a part of, emotional experience and empathy.
This subject is closely related to her previous research and work. Her published books include Music and Meaning, an analysis of the listeners’ reactions to music, and Deeper than Reason: Emotion and its Role in Literature, Music, and Art, which utilizes psychological and neurological theories of the mind and emotions to explain emotional reactions to media and standards of beauty. Deeper than Reason won an award at the University of Cincinnati and has been acclaimed in the academic community.
“I’ve been aware of her work for some time,” said Professor John Rudisill, chair of the department of philosophy at Wooster, noting that he was “excited to bring someone of her status to campus” for the lecture to talk about “art from a philosopher’s perspective.”
Robinson is a professor of philosophy at the University of Cincinnati. Her work specializes in the philosophy of psychology, emotion and the mind, and aesthetics. She previously served as president of the American Society for Aesthetics. Her thought in Deeper than Reason and other works describes the relationship between music and emotions, in which the immediate response listeners have to music directly causes their thoughts about their reactions.
The annual public lecture has been held as a part of Phi Sigma Tau’s induction ceremony for most years since the first in 2000.
While noting that the lecture is typically intended to bring an accomplished lecturer in philosophy to campus to celebrate Phi Sigma Tau’s new membership, Rudisill nonetheless hopes that “many people who aren’t majors or dabblers in philosophy” would still have an interest in Robinson’s lecture. In fact, he believes that it should have a broad appeal to students on campus.
Rudisill said that a great feature of Wooster was the high student involvement with music, whether that involvement is with the Scot Band, the music department, or other programs. “There’s [also] a vibrant, expansive population of people who share a love of music,” said Rudisill. “It struck me that Professor Robinson’s work would strike a chord with many people on campus in a variety of ways.”
Robinson’s lecture, which is free and open to the public, is titled, “Empathy through/with/for Music,” and will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Lean Lecture Hall. A dessert reception will be held before the lecture at 7 p.m.