Pitágoras de Samos

Summary

Pythagoras, a pioneering philosopher from ancient Greece, merged religious beliefs with scientific reasoning. Born in 570 BC on the island of Samos, he traveled widely and studied geometry in Egypt. His discoveries, including the Pythagorean Theorem and the concept of perfect numbers, were seen as divine revelations. He believed that the cosmos was governed by mathematical principles, which he demonstrated through music, geometry, and astronomy. Pythagoras emphasized abstract reasoning over sensory perception, believing that understanding numbers could unlock the secrets of the universe.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pythagoras was born around 570 BC on the island of Samos and later died in Metapontum, Italy.
• 😀 Pythagoras traveled extensively, likely studying at a military school and learning geometry in Egypt.
• 😀 He combined religious beliefs with scientific thought, particularly in his views on reincarnation and the immortality of the soul.
• 😀 Pythagoras founded a religious cult in Croton, Italy, where his disciples studied philosophy, religion, and mathematics.
• 😀 He believed mathematical discoveries were divine revelations, seeing them as more valuable than mere observations.
• 😀 Pythagoras is best known for discovering the Pythagorean theorem: the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the legs of a right triangle.
• 😀 He developed the theory of perfect numbers, where the sum of a number's divisors (excluding itself) equals the number itself.
• 😀 Pythagoras and his followers believed the cosmos was governed by mathematical relationships, evident in day/night cycles, the seasons, and the stars.
• 😀 He explored the harmonic series, determining that musical harmony was governed by simple mathematical ratios.
• 😀 Pythagoras argued that abstract, rational thought was superior to sensory-based thinking, and that understanding numbers helped understand the universe.

Q & A

When and where was Pythagoras born?

Pythagoras was born around 570 BC on the island of Samos, which is located off the coast of present-day Turkey.

What influenced Pythagoras' approach to philosophy?

Pythagoras was influenced by his studies in geometry during a trip to Egypt and his experience at a military school, which led him to approach philosophy in a scientific and mathematical way.

What were the two key aspects of Pythagoras' ideology?

Pythagoras' ideology combined religious beliefs, such as the immortality of the soul and reincarnation, with scientific thought, especially in mathematics and geometry.

How did Pythagoras view the goal of life?

Pythagoras believed the goal of life was to free oneself from the cycle of reincarnation, which could only be achieved through compliance with a set of rules and scientific thought.

What was the name of Pythagoras' religious community and what did they focus on?

Pythagoras established a religious cult called the Pythagoreans in the city of Croton, where they focused on religious, philosophical, and mathematical studies.

What is Pythagoras' theorem?

Pythagoras' theorem states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. This discovery was groundbreaking for geometry.

What is the significance of perfect numbers according to Pythagoras?

Pythagoras developed the theory of perfect numbers, where the sum of a number's divisors (except for the number itself) equals the number. For example, the divisors of 6 are 1, 2, and 3, and 1 + 2 + 3 equals 6.

How did Pythagoras relate mathematics to the cosmos?

Pythagoras believed that the cosmos was governed by mathematical relationships, evident in natural phenomena such as the day and night cycle, changing seasons, and the movement of stars.

What role did music play in Pythagoras' philosophy?

Pythagoras studied the relationship between musical notes and their mathematical ratios, discovering that harmonious sounds are the result of simple mathematical relationships, reinforcing his belief that numbers govern the universe.

What did Pythagoras believe about the nature of abstract thought?

Pythagoras believed that abstract and rational thought, based on mathematics, was superior to sensory perception. He thought that understanding numbers and mathematics would lead to a deeper understanding of the cosmos and the universe.