Art, science and paideia in Aristides Quintilianus’ De musica

The study aims to clarify the meaning of the philosophical views of Aristides Quintilianus, presented in his treatise “On Music”: concepts from the field of ontology, epistemology, psychology, anthropology, ethics are discussed in the context of theories developed by his contemporaries. Aristides’ arguments concerning the benefits of arts and sciences (and, accordingly, music) are examined. It is pointed out that the “accuracy” that Aristides repeatedly speaks about in relation to music means that he prefers to treat music rather as science than art. The definitions of music proposed by Aristides are under consideration, their sources and philosophical content are analyzed. The Neo- Pythagorean and Neo-Platonic context of the ideas of Aristides is explored. Parallels are given from the works of Plato, Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus, ps.-Plutarch, Athenaeus, Nicomachus of Gerasa. The views of Aristides on the nature of the cosmos and the soul are discussed, including his doctrine of the descent of the individual soul through the planetary spheres. With regard to “bodily” music, Aristides’ ideas about the correspondence between a soul and its type of melos, as well as about masculine and feminine in music, are analyzed.