Plato and Aristotle as epistemological pillars of evidence-based music therapy

Abstract

Music therapy has evolved into an evidence-based paradigm, yet its scientific methods are rooted in philosophical traditions tracing back to Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle. Pythagoras explored musical harmony through mathematical ratios, linking sensory experience to cosmic order. This empirical vision laid the groundwork for scientific approaches that integrate observation and abstraction.

Plato posited that true knowledge (episteme) resides in immutable Ideas, transcending sensory perception. This perspective resonates in music therapy’s qualitative and phenomenological research, which seeks to uncover profound meanings through methods such as interviews and musical microanalysis. Here, the therapist, inspired by Socratic maieutics, guides the patient to articulate their own understanding of musical experiences, elucidating the “why” and “how” of therapeutic processes.

Conversely, Aristotle grounded knowledge in systematic observation and logical analysis of the concrete, a legacy reflected in contemporary quantitative designs, including randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. These methods measure tangible outcomes, such as reductions in anxiety or heart rate, legitimising music therapy within the healthcare community.

The Platonic and Aristotelian approaches are complementary: qualitative research provides depth to subjective meanings, while quantitative research offers empirical rigour. Music therapy advances when these approaches converge, integrating qualitative narratives with verifiable quantitative data. This synergy fosters a robust understanding of therapeutic processes, bridging the interpretive depth of lived experience with the precision of measurable outcomes.