Browsing by Author "Labuschagne, Marise"

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    Reflections on the constellation of Mousikē,
 politics and ethics in Plato’s dialogues
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-02) Labuschagne, Marise; Kohler, Ralf Alexander; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Music.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research project investigates Mousikē, Politics and Ethics as an integrated cultureshaping constellation within the democratic context of fifth-century B.C.E. Athens, Greece. Mousikē, in the broad sense, included music, dance and poetry, and formed an important of Greek intellectual culture and everyday life. It was present during intimate religious ceremonies as well as grander occasions such as festivals and even battles. Mousikē functioned as an educational platform where aristocrats were able to master rhetoric through studying literature and the performance arts, including poetry, music and dance. Social hierarchy was of great importance in Grecian culture. The elite mastered rhetoric and Mousikē to express their social power over non-aristocratic citizens. As part of the democratic advances in Athens, all Athenian-born male citizens were encouraged to participate in civic duties. This presented ethical complications for the philosophers, as they believed not all men were or of just character or sufficiently educated in politics to partake in political matters. For this reason, Plato envisioned an Ideal State, where philosophers would rule the poleis (city-states) and all citizens would be morally educated in all traditional elements of Mousikē. In reality, Athens found itself within an economic and political crisis in the late sixth century and required radical transformation in order to continue to exist functionally. This research project considers the possibility that the constellation of Mousikē, Politics and Ethics steadily moulded a new Grecian society that would experience exponential growth during the fifth century and into the Classical era.