In American culture, we tend to regard sensitivity to noise as a sign of weakness or killjoy prudery. But the scientific evidence shows that loud sound is physically debilitating.
I think this article is interesting. Sound does indeed have a lot more influence than we tend to credit it with. Consider though the expression, "it's just noise" or another, "cut that noise" which are both expressions of dismissal, meaning that whatever was said, wasn't worth paying attention to. Noise pollution affects many animal populations in many environments, from what I understand. However, a while ago, I read an article about how the radio or tv can actually help people feel less stressed and isolated, but if I remember correctly, what they found was that it's the sound of human voices that causes the effect. If one considers the sense of hearing to be touch at a distance, in the way that smell is taste at a distance, then it makes more sense as human touch has a calming effect on the body. That said, I would not be surprised if a lot of tension and stress and stress related illnesses are caused by noise and noise outside of our audible range.
According to the Nineteenth-Century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer: On the other hand, here's what the First-Century Latin Philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca had to say about it: EDIT: I replied before reading the article you linked to. Glad to see the NY Times also mentions Schopenhauer.The amount of noise which anyone can bear undisturbed stands in inverse proportion to his mental capacity.
But I assure you that this racket means no more to me than the sound of waves or falling water; although you will remind me that a certain tribe once moved their city merely because they could not endure the din of a Nile cataract. Words seem to distract me more than noises; for words demand attention, but noises merely fill the ears and beat upon them. Among the sounds that din round me without distracting, I include passing carriages, a machinist in the same block, a saw-sharpener near by, or some fellow who is demonstrating with little pipes and flutes at the Trickling Fountain, shouting rather than singing.
Wasn't your namesake a stoic? He wasn't going to let anything get to him, was he? I think noise pollution has gotten to be a serious problem, but we're not just stoic about it; we seem to celebrate it.But I assure you that this racket means no more to me than the sound of waves or falling water
I agree. Personally I'm more with Schopenhauer on this than with Seneca. The article you posted is great, but unfortunately many people seem to be only to happy and even proud to be making noise, as if being noisy were some kind of achievement. I guess the void in their head has to be filled with something, and noise seems to do the trick.