In Plato Republic I was struck by the concept of harmony as it pertains to the overall health of the city. In my previous blogs I address Socrates’ apparent lack of concern for the general good, as it appeared that the Socratic method primarily aimed to promote self-betterment and the greater good was a possible minor by-product. However, in book 3, Glaucon and Socrates directly address the means to provide their city with the most honorable and skilled future leaders. Socrates states that God has gifted humans music and physical training not, “for the body and the soul but for the spirited and wisdom-loving parts of the soul itself, in order that these might be in harmony with one another, each being stretched and relaxed to the appropriate degree” (Pg. 88). I would not describe the Socratic dialogues as ever being in a state of harmony due to the fact that Socrates’ method of questioning often left individuals like Charmides and Meno, along with myself, as confused and frustrated. However, Socrates emphasizes that harmony is a state of mind which is constantly being “stretched” and “relaxed”. The imagery of a malleable and ever changing mind resembles the educational process inherent to the Socratic method, as the individual is forced to analyze and break down the information they previously knew and attempt to re-learn more accurate information. In the past I have always considered reaching a stage in my life where I am relatively content with all aspects of my personal life (if that’s even possible) as being in the ideal state of harmony. Nonetheless, Socrates suggests that harmony can exist even when the mind is evolving and challenging itself. Harmony does not actualize upon the completion of an act, harmony is the action of pursuing improvement and change and can be achieved throughout any stage of an individual’s life.
Chasing the balance in the mind between “music” and “physical training” through education ultimately creates an individual who is equipped to serve as a leader. In reference to the myth of God creating humans with a unique complexion of metals, Socrates continues and states, “if an offspring of theirs should be found to have a mixture of iron or bronze, they must not pity him in any way, but give him the rank appropriate to his nature and drive him out to join the craftsmen and farmers” (Pg. 91). The metal analogy implies that individuals with certain born attributes will create harmony in the city through a process of natural selection. However, I am skeptical that harmony is a state which can be achieved naturally. Don’t all individuals need to be treated as if they have “gold” in their hearts? Is harmony or the strive for harmony an inherent quality of the individual and society? Do individuals need to be provoked or motivated to reach a harmonious state? Can harmony be influenced by anyone except the individual? Thoughts?
-Patrick Thomas
pthomasoutofthecave 
Patrick,
These are great thoughts. I agree with you that I was rather surprised by Plato’s description of harmony as a state of “stretching the mind,” as I believe our society portrays it as a rather calm and relaxed state. However, I think if you really examine happy people, they are generally productive and successful in their careers, whether that be a non-profit NGO, corporation, small business, or educational institution. For example, take professors at our school. I believe most tenured and senior professors have reached some harmony in their lives. Nonetheless, they are always researching new things, reading new academic papers, attending scholarly conferences, and ultimately “working out” their brain. I believe most people like to feel fulfilled by learning constantly and working out their mind.
For example, a friend’s grandfather just turned 98 and is still practicing law. He started Pro Counsel, one of (if not the largest) pro-bono law firm in the world. He has told me that the secret to his longevity and health is always staying mentally active, even in his old age. He is one of the most kind and jolly people I have had the fortunate of meeting, and I think that he has reached true harmony. Nonetheless, he is still working his mind and stretching it to this day with new cases that come in and through navigating the ever-changing legal landscape. He also achieved this harmony out of his own drive – there was no one there to push him to reaching this state. I think humans in general like to think critically, whether that is working on an intricate physical endeavor, like installing a new exhaust system on a car, or more mental, as in analyzing a legal case or ancient text. I believe the mind is like any other muscle in our body – if we don’t use it for prolonged periods of time, it shrinks and ultimately weakens. We must train our mind as we do any other body part, and combining a healthy body with a healthy mind, I believe that an individual reaches true harmony.
– Joseph Scheuer
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