A comparison of alFarabi`s and Plato`s philosophy of music

The current article studies the relation between alFarabi`s philosophy of musicand that of Plato.Plato as a Pythagoras with a strong ethical inclination has many arguments on music the most signicant of wich are given in Laws and the republic. Plato is faced with a theoretical and practical change in music in his time and is striving to prove the musica principles and maintain the old musical traditions, Whereas, alFarabi is not in such a historic turning point. He is in the center of Islamic civilization with musical ideas from different cultural backgrounds, has access to the books on Greek music theory, and is obsessed with developing a comprehensive musical sience.The relation between alFarabi`s and Plato`s philosophy of music is studied in four areas: music and cosmos, ethos and paideia, pleasure, utopia, and practical music, and significant differences in all areas have been concluded. Although they share views in same matters, their ideas are basically different. AlFarabi, being beyond Pythagorian discourse, has founded music on experience.