And we may infer this to be the reason why men seek happiness from
these pleasures.
But music is pursued, not only as an alleviation of past toil, but
also as providing recreation. And who can say whether, having this
use, it may not also have a nobler one? In addition to this common
pleasure, felt and shared in by all (for the pleasure given by music
is natural, and therefore adapted to all ages and characters), may
it not have also some influence over the character and the soul? It
must have such an influence if characters are affected by it. And that
they are so affected is proved in many ways, and not least by the
power which the songs of Olympus exercise; for beyond question they
inspire enthusiasm, and enthusiasm is an emotion of the ethical part
of the soul. Besides, when men hear imitations, even apart from the
rhythms and tunes themselves, their feelings move in sympathy. Since
then music is a pleasure, and virtue consists in rejoicing and
loving and hating aright, there is clearly nothing which we are so
much concerned to acquire and to cultivate as the power of forming
right judgments, and of taking delight in good dispositions and
noble actions. Rhythm and melody supply imitations of anger and
gentleness, and also of courage and temperance, and of all the
qualities contrary to these, and of the other qualities of
character, which hardly fall short of the actual affections, as we
know from our own experience, for in listening to such strains our
souls undergo a change.
Pages:
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346