Kathleen Higgins argues that the arguments that Plato used to defend the ethical value of music are still applicable today. Music encourages ethically valuable attitudes and behavior, provides practice in skills that are valuable in ethical life, and symbolizes ethical ideals.
A psychiatrist and amateur cellist, I salute Prof. Higgins for clearing the philosphical brush from the field of ethics and writing a sophisticated but clear and humane book for general readers. I learned much about 19th century thoughts and prejudices (Hanslick, especially), about sclerotic narrowing of philosophical categories, and the liberating but also disciplining aspects of music. Thank you!
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