Does music matter? Of course it does

At least since the ancient Greek philosopher Plato recommended education in music for the guardian class in his classic work “Republic,” thoughtful persons have weighed in on whether music has an effect on the body politic, for good or for ill. Some say effects are undeniable, but others disagree. But whatever anyone says, our actions make clear that the “ayes” have it.

The discussion makes no sense unless we understand the full dimensions of what music is. It is not merely what is performed by musicians but a powerful aspect of our being. Thus, Plato, mindful of the fact that the very qualities of courage, strength and especially spiritedness that are necessary for the guardians of the polity to defeat enemies in war, are dangerous to the safety and well-being of their fellow citizens.

To temper the violence and rage that animate guardians in wartime but make them dangerous in peacetime, and indeed, to encourage balanced souls, there must be developed a love of what is good, true and beautiful. This music education promotes peaceful intercourse and amicable relations. Those familiar with young David’s soothing harp music for the troubled soul of King Saul will know instantly what is meant here.

But Plato’s discussion of music is incomplete without grasping his understanding of the broader aspects of music, not to mention its dangers. As suggested above, for Plato “music” comprehended what was also called poetry in ancient times and has been known as literature in more modern times.

Recall that poets have long credited their “muse” as the source of their talent. This refers to the part of their souls that generates the words and sounds, the ideas and images, that move people to laugh, cry, brood or cheer about our experiences and feelings.

Music, or poetry, is never without significance for what we know or believe, but it appeals primarily to our emotions. As such, it has the power to bypass our own experience and certainly our reasoning. That is why, in Plato’s imaginary Republic, the poets who stimulated antisocial or immoral desires in people were “banned.” This was not intended to demonstrate the virtues of censorship but to teach wise souls that it makes all the difference what moves the hearts of citizens.

While any period of our history could be cited to show this, nothing makes it plainer than the revolution in music that occurred in the 1960s when already volatile rock ‘n roll music took a radical turn. Its words, its beat and its performance were blatantly sexual and therefore highly attractive to youthful passions. Not surprisingly, the generations most directly affected or charmed, elevated their bodily desires above all else, making marriage, family, church, work and politics the worse for it.

“The personal is the political” was the motto of the eminently forgettable New Left that carried forth the Old Left’s socialistic agenda with an audacity that often embarrassed their forbears. New Deal Democrats did not advocate free love or “doing your own thing,” but the drug-taking, psychedelic music loving, and sexually uninhibited partisans of a society with no taboos had no such hesitation.

Political philosopher Alan Bloom, author of “The Closing of the American Mind” (1987) warned that sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll had come to define our young people to such an extent that their minds were not open to a higher education that liberates them from harmful prejudices.
One noteworthy casualty of the rootless music and poetry was church. Abandoning the spiritually and theologically based hymns that so distinguished diverse denominations in America, the so-called “Jesus Freaks” took refuge in a god less judgmental than forgiving, thereby giving rise to the “feel good” approaches that have drawn recent generations into growing church flocks.

The rock music played in thousands of our churches today may have lyrics praising God, but the feel of the music and, more importantly, its effect, is to diminish the sacred. And what was at first the preserve of young people has, with the coming of new generations, left us with aging contingents of gratified, but not uplifted, church goers.

If this isn’t enough, generations of Americans are going deaf! — from the noisy concerts indoors or outdoors, in ballrooms or dance halls, in churches or county fairs. When loyalty to the country, and reverence for the divine, take second place to personal gratification, whether we admit it or not, we are in trouble. I have no cure to offer other than a long-term education in our country’s heritage and in our civilization’s Biblical faith and philosophic wisdom.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Richard Reeb taught political science, philosophy and journalism at Barstow College from 1970 to 2003. He is the author of “ Taking Journalism Seriously: ‘Objectivity’ as a Partisan Cause”  (University Press of America, 1999). He can be contacted at rhreeb@verizon.net.