Apparently Elvis really did cause the downfall of America
"They should beware of new forms of music, which are likely to affect the whole system of education. Changes in style of music are always politically revolutionary. That's what Damon says, and I believe him."
"In which case you can count me among the believers as well," said Adeimantus.
"Presumably this is where we think the guardians [of the city] should build their watchtower. In music."
"It's certainly a place where breaking rules can easily become a habit without anyone realising," he said.
"Yes, people don't see how breaking rules in the realm of entertainment can do any harm."
"It can't," he said. "Except that once the idea of breaking rules has gradually established itself, it seeps imperceptibly into people's characters and habits. From there is brims over, increasing as it goes, into their contracts with one another. And from contracts, Socrates, it moves on its remorseless way to laws and political institutions, until it finally destroys everything in private and public life."
"I see. So that's how it is, is it?"
"I think so," he said.
"In that case, as we were saying at the beginning, our children must have entertainment of a more disciplined kind. When entertainment is undisciplined - and children likewise - it's impossible for the children to grow up into disciplined and responsible men."
"Of course," he said.
"If they start off as children with the right sort of entertainments, they will acquire discipline through their musical education. This discipline has the opposite effect on them to the effect you were describing just now. It accompanies them in all their actions, and helps them grow, correcting any part of the city which may have earlier gone wrong."
"That is true," he said.
"When this happens," I said, "these people find out for themselves the apparently trivial rules which were all destroyed by there predecessors."
"What rules are those?"
"Things like the young keeping quiet in the presence of their elders, as they should; giving up their seats to them; standing up when they come in; respect for their parents; their hair-styles, clothes, shoes, and general appearance. All those sorts of things. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, I do."
- from "The Republic," by Plato
"In which case you can count me among the believers as well," said Adeimantus.
"Presumably this is where we think the guardians [of the city] should build their watchtower. In music."
"It's certainly a place where breaking rules can easily become a habit without anyone realising," he said.
"Yes, people don't see how breaking rules in the realm of entertainment can do any harm."
"It can't," he said. "Except that once the idea of breaking rules has gradually established itself, it seeps imperceptibly into people's characters and habits. From there is brims over, increasing as it goes, into their contracts with one another. And from contracts, Socrates, it moves on its remorseless way to laws and political institutions, until it finally destroys everything in private and public life."
"I see. So that's how it is, is it?"
"I think so," he said.
"In that case, as we were saying at the beginning, our children must have entertainment of a more disciplined kind. When entertainment is undisciplined - and children likewise - it's impossible for the children to grow up into disciplined and responsible men."
"Of course," he said.
"If they start off as children with the right sort of entertainments, they will acquire discipline through their musical education. This discipline has the opposite effect on them to the effect you were describing just now. It accompanies them in all their actions, and helps them grow, correcting any part of the city which may have earlier gone wrong."
"That is true," he said.
"When this happens," I said, "these people find out for themselves the apparently trivial rules which were all destroyed by there predecessors."
"What rules are those?"
"Things like the young keeping quiet in the presence of their elders, as they should; giving up their seats to them; standing up when they come in; respect for their parents; their hair-styles, clothes, shoes, and general appearance. All those sorts of things. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, I do."
- from "The Republic," by Plato
posted by melilotnfosco | 3:49 PM
7 Comments:
so our grandmothers were right after all
grandmothers are always right
but seriously, i was reading this at work and all i could think was 'holy crap, this is so true! it's all elvis' fault!' so then i shared with my co-workers, who actually found it interesting.
and then i got all excited, because here i was, talking plato with my co-workers. :)
good job! maybe there's hope for them after all.
hmm...very interesting
So if music is the culprit, is music the solution?
ooh - excellent question. perhaps if we all start listening to minuets america will be a better place.
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