McGaughey W. Rhythm and self-consciousness: New ideals for an electronic civilization

Minneapolis: Thistlerose Publications, 2001. — 284 p.This book shows how, as civilization has moved from print to electronic culture, its ideals have changed from the classic “truth, beauty, and good” to an elusive element called rhythm; and how self-consciousness, enemy of rhythm, underlies the complexity of modern life.
Can there be a philosophy of rhythm? The author of this book thinks so. Rhythm is the spark of human personality — some would say, “talent” — in the performance of beautiful music, an athlete’s winning effort, or conversations sparking with wit. Selfconsciousness, running counter to it, is a person’s concentration on his own motions; it is thought thought of. Yet, so much of the devious, complicated world in which we live depends on that kind of thinking.Illustrations
Summary of Book Content
On Form (and Historical Introduction)
How Cultural Ideals Change with Changing Cultural Technologies
Plato’s Idea of Form
Aristotle’s Philosophy of Intelligent Desire
On Rhythm
Rhythm in Music
The Experience of Rhythm
Rhythm in Sports
On Self-Consciousness
Self-Consciousness and Rhythmic Concentration
The Intellectual, or Self-Consciousness as a Way of Life
Swallowing and Being Swallowed
From Simplicity to Complexity
Appendix I Rhythm in Dance
Appendix II Rhythm and Self-Consciousness in Writing this Book
Appendix III Dialectical Shuttles