Plato was somewhat unmerciful to many open ideas about music during his time. During the time period of Ancient Greece, he influenced other philosophers to also think about music and its limitations; by limitations I mean good and bad points about it. Ranging from the Republic to his Musical Idealism, Plato’s thoughts and opinions on music are expressed.
In the Republic, Plato explained and contemplated music in the ideal state, the Laws; involving conclusions for the general good and bad for the people. Within the ideal state, Plato regards music as of great importance. Music should not be used to entertain people, yet used to “help in building up a harmonious personality and in calming the human passions.” Education involving music helps
concluded that within the ideal city of the Laws that if music were to be performed on a contest level they would be judged by able, mature citizens to decipher whether a melody is appropriate or not; for the only person who was able to engage in free expression was the “civic poet.”
According to Plato’s Musical Idealism, he looked at music as possible “social chaos” and would not even consider music for personal enjoyment. Art to him consists of imitation from another imitation from another imitation and so on. We are God’s toys so to say, and we spend our lives “sacrificing, singing and dancing.” Plato’s ideal of this was that this act was ok to practice, but in no other circumstance it was.
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