Plato On Music Soul And Body

Plato's reflection on the relationship between soul and body has attracted scholars' attention since antiquity. Less noted, but worthy of consideration, is Plato's thought on music and its effects on human beings. This book adopts an innovative approach towards analysing the soul-body problem by uncovering and emphasising the philosophical value of Plato's treatment of the phenomenon of music. By investigating in detail how Plato conceives of the musical experience and its influence on intelligence, passions and perceptions, it illuminates the intersection of cognitive and emotional functions in Plato's philosophy of mind.

Offers a new perspective from which to study the relationship between soul, body and music in Plato's philosophy.

Positively re-assesses the relationship between body and soul in Plato's later dialogues, focusing on the harmony between them.

Explores the philosophical import and use of musical notions in crucial moments and authors of the Roman Imperial period.

Explores Greek and Roman theories about the relationship of soul and body in the centuries after Aristotle.

Investigates Plato's account of the tripartite soul, looking at how the theory evolved over the Republic, Phaedrus and Timaeus.

Plato's Cretan City is a thorough investigation into the roots of Plato's Laws and a compelling explication of his ideas on legislation and social institutions. A dialogue among three travelers, the Laws proposes a detailed plan for administering a new colony on the island of Crete. In examining this dialogue, Glenn Morrow describes the contemporary Greek institutions in Athens, Crete, and Sparta on which Plato based his model city, and explores the philosopher's proposed regulations concerning property, the family, government, and the administration of justice, education, and religion. He approaches the Laws as both a living document of reform and a philosophical inquiry into humankind's highest earthly duty.

Erôs, Song and Philosophy in Plato raises critical issues regarding how Plato treats song and philosophy in erotic contexts in his attempt to rewrite, to some degree, the cultural tradition. A question that seems to be repeatedly raised throughout the Platonic dialogues is why it is precisely song that needs to be put aside before we can start doing philosophy – as a more serious and perfect kind of song. This book highlights the importance of this key thematic clust of beauty,erôs, and song. Chara Kokkiou argues that there is a constant interplay among erotic, musical-poetic and spatial motifs and the way those are incorporated into the very essence of philosophical dialectic is indicative of the unique nature of Plato’s philosophy. Her analysis centers on paiderastiaand mousikos erôs, which, if thoroughly purified, contribute significantly to the composition of Socrates’ portrait as mousikos philosophos. The Socratic philosophical logos displays reformed erotic and song-authorized patterns, such as inspiration and healing. Through a close reading of certain Platonic passages and detailed attention to both choral and mythical motifs in the eschatological myths of Republic and Phaedo, and to the descriptions of locus amoenus in Phaedrus and Laws, Kokkiou demonstrates that Plato, through his painstakingly purged philosophical model, delineates the route towards the creation of a cultural and intellectual ideal. In this way, he establishes a dominant philosophical authority.