Chapter 5 Music is for the sake of education, play and pastime. Play is for the sake of rest, which should be pleasant, and music is one of the most pleasant things. But some human beings have made play their ultimate end, because the end does in fact involve pleasure. Music itself is good for education because the harmonious blend of sounds leads the soul to balance the passions harmoniously in accordance with reason. Chapter 6 Children should actively participate in the making of music themselves through singing or playing instruments, because it provides them with a noble pastime and keeps them out of trouble.
Education is a rattle for the young.
The three defining principles for the purposes of education are the middle, the possible and the appropriate. Aristotle's strong belief in the importance of education is evident in his earlier statement that education is the best means of preserving a regime, and is now made even clearer in his unqualified assertion that education should be the legislator's greatest concern. Like all of the central ideas in the Politics, the value that Aristotle places on education is rooted in his emphasis on the goal of the city as living well. Since the raison d'etre of the city is to help its citizens live the good life, teaching citizens to be virtuous is of primary importance. Furthermore, having well-educated and virtuous citizens will also help the city as a whole to be better.