Music Education And Politics - From The Point Of View Of Aristotle, Plato Criticized

This paper intends to draw some meaningful lessons and inspirations from the political philosophy in Ancient Greece to enhance Modern Education and the modern lifestyles. Focusing on the influence of Music Education on Polis, the study is mainly on the classical works by Plato and Aristotle, especially the criticism to the former by the latter.The paper mainly discusses three basic relations:music and beauty, poetry and songs, music education and polis. All Ancient Greek philosophers, including Plato and Aristotle, consecrate themselves to the pursuit of beauty and truth. They commonly deem music as an approach that can lead people to that goal. However, the two great philosophers differ greatly in their attitudes towards poets. Plato separates poetry from songs and drives poets away from the polis while Aristotle reunites the two and argues for poets. Their conflicting views over the relation between poetry and songs distinctly lie in how music education should be carried out in their ideal state respectively. In Plato's philosopher-king-state, music is the education privileged for the guardians and its most prominent function is order maintaining. Whereas in Aristotle's Polis, music education is for all citizens, for it can help them acquire higher spiritual cultivation.As a conclusion, the writer points out that it is far from enough to regard Music Education only as a part of Modern Aesthetics Education. It can hardly produce sound educational effects because of its rigid form and monotonous content. We need to reestablish the holistic function of music education as in Ancient Greece. Only by resuming humane care of philosophy in music education can people better realize their personal value and a more harmonious society be built.