Response to 9-12-11

According to Plato the criteria that he uses to choose music for the guardians-in-training is music that enlightens them and encourages them to be better people. He does not choose music that speaks of violence or warring between the gods or even works that make the gods seem even close to being human. He believes that the young are 'malleable' and unable to see for themselves that such works are not supposed to be taken literally, but only used to teach a lesson. The first stories, according to plato that his trainees should hear are tales of virtue that makes them mild god-fearing people. He wants pieces that do not inspire political unrest from his trainees. He looks down upon Homer and others like him for questioning the will of the gods and attempting to expose the young to certain moments when the gods have shown what he believes is their human side or weakness because he wants his trainees to see the choices of the gods as just and all-knowing though they too make mistakes.

Plato is assuming that music can influence the opinions and actions of humans because it is an outside influence just as he says food and drink are. Therefore it can alter the behavior of people as well as their thoughts and reasoning.