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Article: Temper, Temper!
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- April 7, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When Alfred A. Knopf published my book, Temperament, in late 2001, the last thing I expected was a political response. The book traces the evolution of an argument that began as far back as the 5th century B.C., and that found temporary respite only in the 20th century, over whether God had decreed which notes should comprise the musical scale. Because my approach places this debate in the context of developments in art, science, philosophy, and religion, Temperament is filled with the stuff of human discord, and includes such notable combatants as Galileo, Leonardo, Newton, Descartes, and Rousseau. However, in putting this history out into the world, I hardly expected to ...