Music for Politics: Plato and Pitagorism

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between music and politics according to the philosophical thinking of Platonism and Pythagorism. According to those two philosophical movements, music affects fundamentally the soul of individuals, and it also affects their political organization. Therefore, I will show that both ancient schools, Platonism and Pythagorism, propose a careful musical education in order to achieve the perfect harmony of the soul. If it is possible, then we would achieve the perfect relation between individuals and the cosmos.  Finally, it would make possible the instauration of a just political organization.