The Decline of Music and the Fall of Civilization: Lessons from Ancient Greece and China
This article explores the common thread in the decline of ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations: the degeneration of music. Plato and ancient Chinese texts argue that musical chaos directly led to the collapse of social order. The article posits that this wasn't merely an aesthetic shift, but a departure from the principles of cosmic harmony (the Greek Logos and the Chinese Tao). Initially, music adhered to strict conventions, maintaining social cohesion. However, when artists broke these conventions in pursuit of sensory stimulation, the audience's rational judgment was weakened, and social order crumbled. This wasn't rebellion against authority, but a rejection of cosmic harmony, ultimately leading to civilizational decline.