Music, Wellbeing and The Philosophical Greeks.

This week I return to the subject of music itself, taking it old, ‘oldschool’ …through the eyes of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. The man himself wrote lots about society and education but also valued music in a number of ways.

In Book 8 of his work Politics, Aristotle takes a serious look at music (amongst many other things), not just as entertainment, but as something essential to personal growth and a healthy society. Although he lived over 2,000 years ago, many of his ideas still feel surprisingly relevant today.

Resonating with my own thoughts around this, Aristotle believed that music should be part of a child's education. This wasn’t just about making them well-rounded or talented it was about shaping their character, the very essence of their personality.

He argued that music has a direct effect on the soul and emotions. Just like physical exercise strengthens the body, music can help train the moral side of a person. By listening to certain kinds of music, people (especially young people) could develop qualities like courage, balance, and self-control. An interesting perspective. He saw this as crucial for building good citizens, not just good individuals. After all, a strong society depends on people who can act with reason and virtue according to his musings on society.

Aristotle also noticed that music affects us emotionally, it can move us to tears, pump us up, or calm us down. He believed that this emotional power wasn’t just a side effect; it had real value. In fact, he thought music could help people process emotions in a healthy way. He called this "catharsis" a kind of emotional cleansing. Just as watching a powerful drama can help you release pent-up feelings, certain kinds of music can do the same.

In this way, music isn’t just about pleasure. It’s also about emotional well-being, well certain types of music anyway. He insisted that some types of music are better for us than others.

He praised music that was calm, balanced, and noble, but he warned against music that was overly intense, showy, or emotionally wild. He thought certain musical modes (like the Phrygian) stirred up too much passion and excitement, while others (like the Dorian) encouraged harmony and control. When it came to instruments, he was even more cautious. He didn’t like instruments that were too flashy or technical. Music, he said, should not be about performance and applause, but about internal growth and moral development.

For Aristotle, music wasn’t just a private pleasure, it was a public good. He believed that leisure (what we do in our free time) is where we really develop as human beings. In this sense, music, when chosen wisely, helps us use that leisure in a meaningful way. It brings harmony to our emotions, shapes our character, and helps us live better lives. This makes music important not just for individuals, but for the well-being of the whole community.

Aristotle’s take on music might have been written many moons ago but it still holds huge relevance in today’s society, perhaps he was correct in his assumptions surrounding, what we listen to shapes who we are. In a world filled with constant noise and stimulation, it’s worth asking: Is the music we consume helping us grow, or just distracting us? Are we using it to connect, to heal, and to reflect, or simply to fill silence? Big questions but it’s quite comforting to think that even the ancient Greek philosophers wrestled with the same dilemmas.

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Adam Ficek hosts a monthly show 'Tonic Music' on Totally Wired Radio, where he talks to various guests about music and mental health. You can listen again to any of the previous show on the Tonic Music Mixcloud page.