Introduction. The nature of the auditory object and its specific status as an object of perception

The aim of this special issue of Rivista di Estetica is to investigate the nature of the auditory object and its special status as an object of perception. The investigation was carried out using different methodologies: 1) focusing on the auditory object in relation to its metaphysical dimension; 2) working on the comparison between auditory and visual perception; 3) finding similarities and differences between auditory and musical objects; and, finally, 4) focusing exclusively on the specific manifestation of the auditory object as a musical phenomenon.