
In Our Time
Pythagoras
Dec 10, 2009
Mathematical experts Serafina Cuomo, John O'Connor, and Ian Stewart discuss the enigmatic Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans. They delve into the mystical beliefs of the Pythagoreans, their unique code of living, and the profound impact of Pythagorean ideas on Western science and philosophy. Explore the Pythagoreans' fascination with numbers, their influence on modern science, and their unconventional cosmology that challenged traditional views.
41:47
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Quick takeaways
- The Pythagorean sect emphasized numerical and mathematical principles as the key to understanding reality and influenced Western science and philosophy.
- Pythagoras' theorem revolutionized geometrical relationships, laying the foundation for modern geometry and mathematical principles.
Deep dives
Influence of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans on Western Science and Philosophy
The impact of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans on Western science and philosophy is significant. Despite the lack of historical evidence about Pythagoras himself, the Pythagorean sect in Italy in the 5th century BC held beliefs that numerical and mathematical principles underlie reality. Their contributions include knowledge of triangular numbers, irrational numbers, and Pythagoras' theorem on right-angled triangles. This belief that numbers reveal the truths of reality inspired later thinkers like Plato, Euclid, Copernicus, and Newton.
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