Just because it's subject to this type of argument doesn't mean that the argument has any merit. The piano world is replete with myths (as we all know). That ETD's lead to the inability to hear or a diminished capacity to hear is yet another one. But given this argument, Jason, are you not concerned that posting a graphic display of historic temperaments will cause people to rely on that in order to discern the differences and take away their ability to hear them? Or is it more the case that your graphic display provides a framework with which they can structure their listening and discernment of the subtle differences in a more focused and expedient way? There is no cure for laziness or inattention and I've heard many aural and ETD tunings that bear the marks of those qualities. But to suggest that one method has a greater claim in that is a fallacy of logic. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com > > And here's my paraphrase: > "...But when they came to the ETD, Theuth said: 'O King, here is something that, once learned, will make the tuners wiser and will improve their tunings; I have discovered a potion for temperament, speed, and accuracy.' Thamus, however, replied: 'O most expert Theuth, one man can give birth to the elements of an art, but only another can judge how they can benefit or harm those who will use them. And now, since you are the father of the ETD, your affection for it has made you describe its effects as the opposite of what they really are. In fact, it will introduce loss of accurate hearing into the soul of those who learn it: they will not practice using their ears because they will put their trust in the display, which is external and depends on machine programming, instead of trying to hear the actual intervals from the inside, completely on their own. You have not discovered a potion for temperament, speed, and accuracy, but for reading a display; you provide your students with the appearance of tuning, not with its reality. Your invention will enable them to tune many pianos without really hearing them, and they will imagine that they have become good tuners while for the most part they will know nothing about the true art of tuning. And they will be difficult to get along with, since they will merely appear to be wise instead of really being so.' > > My point? Every technological advance is subject to this kind of argument. Every advance does subtract from the human experience, and at the very same time, every advance also benefits us in new ways. We drive in cars and forget how to walk. We watch TV and forget how to enjoy the passage of time. We email and forget how to engage in face-to-face conversation. In every case we could get into pitched battles, arguments available on both sides. Yet each side can benefit so much by incorporating the other's viewpoint. > > Judge for yourself which of the voices above are open to both sides, and which are entrenched. > > Jason > > <snip> > -- > | || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| > jason's cell 425 830 1561 > | || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| >
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