ARISTOTLE ON THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN A POLIS

Abstract

In Chapters 7 and 8 of “Politics”, Aristotle presents his most detailed version of the philosophy of upbringing and education (paideia). According to his understanding, paideia is firmly connected to politics and political practice. Each political order determines its own way of upbringing and education, which has to achieve the goals to which the respective order aspires to the best possible extent. Thus, in a democracy, democratic education should be developed, in oligarchy and in the oligarchic kingdom it should be the education that best serves the goals of the monarchy. In this context, Aristotle in Chapter 8 of “Politics” discusses in great detail what music education in the polis should be in order to best serve the goals that its citizens set for themselves. Unlike Plato, while avoiding any kind of interventionism, Aristotle does not intend to prescribe what music and dance should be in one polis. Hsimply analyzes all possibilities, and according to his general methodological inclination in “Politics”, leaves it to citizens and legislators in every political order to make a final decision on it.