Re: Greeks, Ethos and Rock Music

[James Wright Mcgill <jawright@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In response to postings re. Rock Music, Morality, and Plato (though this
may be swerving from the usual thread of dialogue on the Auditory list ...):

Though Plato certainly argued for the ethical, moral and educational value
of music, it may be worth pointing out that there was little concensus
among the Greeks on this question.  For example, in his treatise "Peri
Mousikes," the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus (100 BC- 40 BC) unleashed
a sustained attack upon Platonic beliefs in the power and ethical value of
music.  For Philodemus, music was irrational and so could not influence
the soul in any choice or avoidance of action: "Music has never in itself
made ethos manifest" (Peri Mousikes, 4.ii.41-3).

See also:
Anderson, Warren (1966) Ethos and Education in Greek Music (Cambridge,
Mass.), p. 153.

Wilkinson, L.F. (1938) "Philodemus on Ethos in Music," Classical
Quarterly, xxxii, p. 174

James Wright
Doctoral Candidate
Faculty of Music
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
jawright@ccs.carleton.ca
Phone: (613) 523-7846
Fax: (613) 523-8486

Douglas H. Keefe writes:
>
> You might take a look at what Plato wrote in  "The Republic" on the subject
> of music and the effects of music.  Your questions need some refinement.
>
> (In general though, I would avoid the key of E.)
>
> --Doug Keefe
>
> Dan Ellis wrote:
>
> > Dear List -
> >
> > Do any of you know of actual research relevant to this question?
> > Thanks.
> >
> >   DAn.
> >
> > ------- Forwarded Message
> > From: "ATOM BIGGS" <forbiggs@email.msn.com>
> > To: <dpwe@ICSI.Berkeley.EDU>
> > Subject: ROCK MUSIC
> > Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 21:03:51 -0700
> >
> > Dan Ellis:
> >
> > Dr. Al Bregman said you might be able to help me, or at least send out a
> > post on your "auditory" e-mail list.  I'm involved in a discussion over
> > the topic of "rock music".  It's being said that the syncopated beats of
> > rock music create physiological desires for sex and violence which
> > completely offsets any altruistic message that a rock song might
> > contain.  Does this reasoning have any credence whatsoever?  My
> > understanding is that, apart from the lyrics, music's effect on thoughts
> > and moods vary greatly from person to person and culture to culture.
> > What is your insight on this?  Do you know of any related research?
> >
> > atom biggs    forbiggs@mail.wsu.edu
> >
> > ------- End of Forwarded Message
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