From the Polis to the Body Alcmaeon’s ἰσονομία and the notion of ἁρμονία across Philolaus, Archytas, and Aristoxenus

Abstract

The article examines the work of Alcmaeon of Croton in relation to medicine, politics, and Pre-Socratic philosophy. The analysis focuses on fragment (24 B 4 DK) in which health is defined as ἰσονομία of the δυνάμεις, in opposition to disease (μονάρχια / μοναρχία). Starting from these doctrines attributed to him, the paper aims to show, on the one hand, how Alcmaeon - seen in the light of a τέχνη πολιτική conceived as care of the community - takes a position with respect to the political events of Croton and the role played in them by the Pythagoreans; and, on the other, how, through Philolaus and Archytas, the latter a disciple of the former, those aspects of Alcmaeon’s reflection connected with αἴσθησις may have influenced the Pythagorean-Peripatetic Aristoxenus of Tarentum, the earliest music theorist whose writings survive, who regarded αἴσθησις as the most important vehicle for understanding music. Thus Alcmaeon’s position within the Pythagorean milieu of Croton would find a tentative definition, and, within the framework of his relationship with the Pythagoreans, further confirmation would be offered to the significant influence of the Magno-Greek component in the development of Aristoxenian doctrines.