Aristo'xenus
（
*)Aristo/cenos), a philosopher of the Peripatetic school.
The date of his birth is not known; but from the account of Suidas, and from incidental notices in other writers, we learn that he was born at Tarentum, and was the son of a learned musician named Spintharus (otherwise Mnesias). (Aelian,
Ael. NA 2.11.)
He learnt music from his father, and having been afterwards instructed by Lamprus of Erythrae and Xenophilus the Pythagorean, finally became a disciple of Aristotle (
Gel. 4.11; Cic.
Tusc. Disp. 1.18), whom he appears to have rivalled in the variety of his studies, though probably not in the success with which he prosecuted them.
Works
According to Suidas, he produced works to the number of 453 upon music, philosophy, history, in short, every department of literature.
He gained so much credit as a scholar of Aristotle, that it was expected, at least by himself, that he would be chosen to succeed him; and his disgust at the appointment of Theophrastus caused him afterwards to slander the character of his great master.
This story is, however, contradicted by Aristocles (apud
Euseb. Praep. Evang. 15.2), who asserts that he never mentioned Aristotle but with the greatest respect.
Philosophical Work
We know nothing of his philosophical opinions, except that he held the soul to be a
harmony of the body (Cic.
Tusc. Disp. 1.10, 18; Lact.
Instit. 7.13,
de Opif Dei, 100.16), a doctrine which had been already discussed by Plato (in the
Phaedo) and combated by Aristotle. (
De An. 1.4.)
It is only in his character as a musician that Aristoxenus appears to have deserved and acquired a reputation for real excellence; and no considerable remains of his works have come down to us except three books of
ἁρμονικὰ στοιχεῖα, or rather, as their contents seem to shew, fragments of two or three separate musical treatises. (See Burney,
Hist. of Music, vol. i. p. 442.) They contain less actual information on the theory of Greek music than the later treatises ascribed to Euclid, Aristeides Quintilianus, and others; but they are interesting from their antiquity, and valuable for their criticisms on the music of the times to which they belong. Aristoxenus, at least if we may trust his own account, was the first to attempt a complete and systematic exposition of the subject; and he aimed at introducing not only a more scientific knowledge, but also a more refined and intellectual taste than that which prevailed among his contemporaries, whom he accuses of cultivating only that kind of music which was capable of
sweetness. (Aristox. p. 23, ed. Meibom.)
He became the founder of a sect or school of musicians, called, after him, Aristoxeneans, who were opposed to the Pythagoreans on the question whether
reason or
sense should furnish the principles of musical science and the criterion of the truth of its propositions. Pythagoras had discovered the connexion between musical
intervals and numerical ratios; and it had been found that the principal concords were defined by simple ratios which were either
superparticular (of the form
n+1/
n) or
multiple (of the form
n/1). From this fact, he or his followers inferred, that no interval could be consonant which was defined by a ratio of a different kind; and hence they were obliged to maintain (contrary to the evidence of the senses), that such intervals as the octave and fourth (the
eleventh), for example, were dissonant. Aristoxenus justly blamed them for their contempt of facts, but went into the opposite extreme of allowing too much authority to the decisions of the ear, though without denying the existence of a certain truth in the arithmetical theory (p. 33).
He maintains, for instance, not only that every consonant interval added to the octave produces another consonance, which is true; but also that the
fourth is equal to two tones and a half (p. 56), the falsity of which proposition is not
directly apparent to the ear, but
indirectly would become evident by means of the very experiment which he suggests for the confirmation of it. (See Porphyr.
Comm. in Ptol. Harm. in Wallis,
Op. vol. iii. p. 211, and Wallis's appendix, pp. 159, 169; Burney, vol. i. chap. v.; Theon Smyrn. p. 83, ed. Bulliald. and note, p. 202.)
Editions
Latin Editions
The three books of
Ἁρμονικὰ στοιχεῖα were first edited in Latin, with the Harmonics of Ptolemy, by Ant. Gogavinus, Ven. 1562.
Greek Editions
The Greek text, with Alypius and Nicomachus, by Meursius (Lugd. Bat. 1616), who, like his predecessor, seems not to have had sufficient musical knowledge for the task.
The last and best edition is at present that of Meibomius, printed (with a Latin version) in the Antiquae Musicae Auctores Septem, Amst. 1652.
Other Works
The titles of a good many other works of Aristoxenus have been collected from various sources by Meursius and others. (See Fabric.
Bibl. Graec. vol. ii. p. 257; Clinton,
F. H. vol. ii. appendix, 100.12.) Among them are lives of Pythagoras, Archytas, Socrates, Plato, and other distinguished persons; and several treatises on subjects connected with music, including one
Περὶ Τραγικῆς Ὀρχήσεως, and one
Περὶ Αὐλῶν Τρήσεως.
Editions
A fragment of Ῥυθμικὰ στοιχεῖα was edited by Morelli, Ven. 1785. A collection of fragments of the other works is given in the essay by Mahne referred to below.
Further Information
Mahne,
Diatribe de Aristoxeno philosophy Peripatetico, Amst. 1793.
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W.F.D]
