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Why do some think "music" (not gear, trading, etc.) is the ultimate end?

A recent thread spurred a debate about the word "audiophile." Again. It went round and round in the usual ways.

What I don't understand is why so many take for granted that loving music is superior to loving gear. Or that gear is always -- and must be -- a mere *means* to music, which is the (supposedly) true end.

But if you stop and think about it, why do we love music? It gives us enjoyment.
Isn't that why people love gear? The enjoyment?
Or even, to push the question, buying, selling, changing gear? That's for enjoyment, no?

So, it raises the difficult question: Why do some think that "music" as an "enjoyment" is better than "gear" or "shopping, buying, selling, trading"?

Not everyone believes this, but it is the most prevalent assumption in these discussions -- that "love of music" is the end-which-cannot-be-questioned. 

So, while music is the largest end I'm personally striving for, I do realize that it's because it brings me enjoyment. But the other facets of the hobby do, too. And I'm starting to realize that ranking them is an exercise but not a revelation of the "one" way everything should sort out. It's all pretty subjective and surely doesn't seem like a basis on which I could criticize someone else's enjoyment, right? 

What do you think? On what grounds do you see it argued that "music" is a *superior* or *ultimate* end? Whether you agree or not, what reasons do you think support that conclusion?
128x128hilde45
sokogear
1,050 posts
 
@hilde45-time is money and once clicking I go down a rabbit hole for curiosity. Seems as  if you are encouraging the divergence instead of sticking with your OP,  and mahgister is encouraging you with a back and forth.

My $.02, but note that I am still following....but not reading the complete “esoteric” posts.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,783 posts
 
@sokoogear Threads lead in many directions. It's like a conversation. Tangents sometimes lead interesting places. When they don't, I stop following or skip over, as is your strategy. To each their own. Peace.
vitto
21 posts
 
Attention to gear and sound can take away from the pleasures of listening to music. 
It brings me great pleasure to analyse sound and enjoy beautiful amplifiers and speakers.
But often, as I concentrate on sound and gear, I find myself overlooking the music. 
It is important to strike a fine balance, always remembering that gear is the means and and music is the end.   
As much as I can enjoy playing with gear, it's the music that really fills my heart with infinite joy.  
Gear will give me great satisfaction, albeit at a different level.
A bit like comparing material and spiritual pleasures.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,783 posts
 
@vitto You seem to know yourself well, and that's great. I find that the pleasures are of different sorts -- the difference, e.g. of enjoying a sensual pleasure (such as music or food) vs. enjoying a good puzzle (analyzing sound or doing a crossword). I don't feel a need to rank them, but your point about keeping a balance of them in my life is right on!
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano
2,414 posts
 
Being a former musician this is hard for me to say, but the sound IS as important to me now as is the music.  Unless it’s a historic performance of great merit, I can’t listen to  a mediocre sounding recording without turning it off. And conversely, I might bear a mediocre rendering if it sounds amazing.
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