I suspect music is auditory cheesecake, an exquisite confection

Hear, O children of curiosity and seekers of truth, the words of Steven Pinker, who declared: “I suspect music is auditory cheesecake, an exquisite confection crafted to tickle the sensitive spots of… our mental faculties.” With these words, the scholar of mind sought to unveil a paradox: that music, so powerful and beloved, may not be a necessity of survival, but a sweet and wondrous byproduct, a delight to the senses fashioned by the hidden workings of the human brain. Like cheesecake to the tongue, music is to the ear—unnecessary for life’s continuation, yet irresistible, nourishing the spirit in ways that transcend the body.

For behold, man was shaped to recognize patterns, to hear voices, to feel rhythm in the beating of the heart and the steps of the hunt. From these faculties, says Pinker, music arises—not as a tool of survival, but as a glorious indulgence, an adornment to existence. It is “auditory cheesecake” because it appeals directly to the pleasure centers of the mind, heightening joy, stirring memory, and moving emotion, without needing to serve a direct purpose for survival. Yet what some might call a luxury, others know as one of life’s greatest treasures.

Consider the story of the slaves of America, whose bodies were bound in chains, yet whose spirits were sustained by song. The hymns and spirituals they created did not feed their bodies, nor shield them from cruelty, but they fed the soul. They gave hope, courage, and unity. To the philosopher’s eye, this may seem like “cheesecake”—a sweetness unnecessary for survival. But in truth, these songs proved essential, for they strengthened the will to live, and through them, freedom was dreamed into being.

History reveals the same in every land. The ancient Greeks, though masters of philosophy and reason, placed music at the heart of education. To them, it was not mere indulgence but the shaping of the soul. Plato declared that music “gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination.” If it was cheesecake, then it was a confection that nourished the very virtues of their civilization. Pinker’s metaphor points us to a question: is music merely a sweet accident of the mind, or is it a hidden form of sustenance for the spirit?

Mark this wisdom: whether necessity or indulgence, music holds power unmatched. It can bring men to tears, stir nations to war, or calm the cries of a child. Soldiers have marched with it, lovers have confessed through it, worshippers have ascended to the divine by it. Even if it began as an “exquisite confection,” it has become, through time and culture, a force that guides destiny itself. That which may have been accidental has become indispensable.

The lesson is clear: do not dismiss as frivolous that which brings joy, unity, and healing. What seems like a sweet luxury may, in truth, be the very thing that sustains the heart. The auditory cheesecake of music feeds not the body, but the imagination, the courage, the tenderness of the soul. Without it, humanity would survive, but it would not flourish. With it, life is not merely endured but celebrated.

Practical wisdom calls for this: make space in your life for music, not as a distraction but as a discipline. Listen deeply to melodies that uplift, sing boldly even if your voice trembles, and use music as a tool to heal your heart and bind yourself to others. Just as one savors cheesecake not daily but in moments of celebration, savor music with reverence, letting it be a delight that renews your soul.

Thus, beloved, remember Pinker’s words. Whether music is necessity or indulgence, its sweetness cannot be denied. It may have begun as “auditory cheesecake,” but it has become bread for the spirit, wine for the heart, and a timeless gift that humanity will never cease to hunger for.