He tried to solve philosophical problems with music: Who is Aristoxenus?

(350 BC -?) Ancient Greek philosopher and music theorist. Born in Tarentum, place of death unknown, received his first science and music lessons from his father, a close friend of Socrates. For a while, he was a student of famous sages such as Lamprus of Eritrea and Xenphilaks the Pythagorean. Under their influence, he adopted the ideas of Pythagoras. As a result of his closeness with the Aristotelians, he changed his old thoughts to a new interpretation and became a traveler (Peripatos). He commented on Aristotle's views and lectured in this school, which he remained attached to for a long time.

Aristoxenes entered philosophy with music problems, primarily benefiting from Pythagoras' music teaching, he defended the view that there is a subject and method identity between music and philosophy. He tried to reconcile Pythagoras' comments on the "soul" problem with the concept of "harmony" in music. In this study, he used the Aristotelian solution method.

According to the philosophical theory he advocated, there is unity provided by harmony between the soul and the body. The harmony established between the sounds, and the unity of order creates the essence of the music, and the harmony between the elements that make up the body creates the spirit. For this reason, the soul is the natural result of the functions that provide the general harmony of the body.

Aristoxenes influenced those who came after him with his views on music. With his broad interpretations, he allowed the spread of Pythagoreanism. Although some sources report that he has many works in philosophy and music, very few of his writings have survived.