Paradoxical Relationship In The Republic And Timaeus

In the days of Ancient Greece all the way up until now, music was heavily influenced by the people who created it, while at the same time, those who created music were heavily influenced by the music and culture of their time. This paradoxical relationship is what Plato discusses in his books, The Republic and Timaeus. Claude V. Palisca, Former President of the American Musicological Society, claims that “Plato showed paths through which the harmony of the world could influence the moral character and emotional life of the listeners.”(Palisca, 2). However, the music Plato refers to was subject to his period’s culture. This proves that music and people, especially composers, have a paradoxical relationship that is true throughout history.
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