Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism

Fifty · Apr 28, 2007, 04:37 PM

I've developed something of an interest in Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism. I wonder if anyone could recommend a good history/biography of Pythagoras and/or Pythagoreanism. I'm looking for something that will be primarily history, but will also explain what Pythagoreanism is in some detail, without gettting TOO hung up in the ancient philosophy minutae.

Books would be great, as well as journal articles (I have access to some journal sources like JSTOR and Infotrac) or websites. The accessability of the book shouldn't be too much of an issue as I can get pretty much anything through ILL at my uni.

Thanks in advance,

Your pal,

Fifty Q Fiftyson

jonatas · Apr 28, 2007, 07:17 PM

Pythagoras is a mysterious subject. He seems to have had influence on Plato and recurs again in Neoplatonism with its emphasis on mysticism and numbers (Porphyry and Iamblichus- I pretty sure Iamblichus wrote on his life).

Livy writes a paragraph or two on him in Ad Urbe Condita, but it's in the early part of the book where the history is legendary and mythical. There are other ancient sources as well. About modern writings, I really don't know.

Plotinus · Apr 29, 2007, 03:18 AM

Jonathan Barnes wrote an excellent book on the Presocratics, which I would describe in more detail if it weren't in the attic.

thetrooper · May 02, 2007, 05:39 AM

I found something by a guy called Nathan Feifer published in Chemistry in 1974.

Most likely written by a chemist. So I don't know if you are interested.

Atticus · May 02, 2007, 06:39 AM

Theres a copy of The Magic of Numbers be Eric Temple Bell waiting to be read on my nightstand. It is all about Pythagoras, but I can't yet tell if it's good or not, maybe after a week or two. Do you btw want to exclude books that go in details about maths also?

CartesianFart · May 02, 2007, 08:32 AM

I can recall that there is some mentions of the Pythagoreans in Plato's 'Phaedo','Kratylus','Gorgias'.Aristotle wrote some reflections and commentaries of Pythagoras which suffice to say is one of the best,I think,on tackling down on "Pythgorean first-principles" in 'Physics'.Diogenes's "Lives of Philosophers" is a somewhat good read.

I have to say that there is a huge list and it takes a special person to not only have the passion to study Pythagorus but also to have the pleasure trying to figure this guy out.I don't care for it though.

Atticus · May 23, 2007, 04:03 AM

I read the first chapter of tha above mentioned the Magic of Numbers. It was confusing and boring. Can't recommend. If you find a good book, Fifty, perhaps you want to tell us about it?

My friend btw was in Amsterdam some time ago and heard Jonathan Barnes' lecture there. He was surprised to see the weirdest looking hippie being the main speaker (my experience tells to be surprised if that isn't the case), but said also that Jonathan was excellent speaker. As his book seems to be very respected one, I'd go for it.

GoodGame · May 23, 2007, 09:08 AM

Maybe this sheds some light?
http://www.arcytech.org/java/pythagoras/history.html

http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac...ythagoras.html

Fifty · May 24, 2007, 01:34 PM

A giant crapload of schoolwork has prevented me from doing much pleasure reading, though my school's library has a pretty substantial section of Pythagoras so I'm sure I'll find something!

Apr 28, 2007, 04:37 PM	#1
Fifty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: an ecovillage in madagascar Posts: 10,646	Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism I've developed something of an interest in Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism. I wonder if anyone could recommend a good history/biography of Pythagoras and/or Pythagoreanism. I'm looking for something that will be primarily history, but will also explain what Pythagoreanism is in some detail, without gettting TOO hung up in the ancient philosophy minutae. Books would be great, as well as journal articles (I have access to some journal sources like JSTOR and Infotrac) or websites. The accessability of the book shouldn't be too much of an issue as I can get pretty much anything through ILL at my uni. Thanks in advance, Your pal, Fifty Q Fiftyson __________________ VISIT #FIFTYCHAT! CLICK HERE! ITS THE MOST ACTIVE CFC-RELATED CHATROOM!!! "Banning [Fifty and Perfection] is like a rite of passage for a mod." -Padma "Well, I guess this is a rite of passage for a CFCer." -FredLC on going to fiftychat <@Whomp> Fitty how'd you get so smart <@Whomp> I admire your brain Last edited by Fifty; Apr 28, 2007 at 04:40 PM.

Apr 29, 2007, 03:18 AM	#3
Plotinus Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: London Posts: 14,883	Jonathan Barnes wrote an excellent book on the Presocratics, which I would describe in more detail if it weren't in the attic. __________________ Try the Anglo-Saxon scenario... Or can you build an empire of Africa? A list of units. Sensible religion discussion. Please read: the truth about children brought up by gay couples.

May 02, 2007, 05:39 AM	#4
thetrooper Schweinhund Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hinter feindlichen Linien! Posts: 7,241	I found something by a guy called Nathan Feifer published in Chemistry in 1974. Most likely written by a chemist. So I don't know if you are interested. __________________ Going for 160k as the Sumerians (Emperor C3C, final patch) Avatar by Mistfit.

May 23, 2007, 09:08 AM	#8
GoodGame Red, White, & Blue, baby! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 13,478	Maybe this sheds some light? http://www.arcytech.org/java/pythagoras/history.html http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac...ythagoras.html __________________ Ways to be banned from RL: Heart disease, Cancer, Strokes, Chronic Respiratory diseases, Accidents, Diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, the Flu, kidney disease, infection,... http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/cho...a/raiseHDL.htm Evrbody thot Ceiling Cat was stoopid, Warning: User cites from the Internet, or even just makes stuff up., so Ceiling Cat let thm do stoopid stuff dat they shuldnt do! NAH-məs-tay

May 24, 2007, 01:34 PM	#9
Fifty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: an ecovillage in madagascar Posts: 10,646	A giant crapload of schoolwork has prevented me from doing much pleasure reading, though my school's library has a pretty substantial section of Pythagoras so I'm sure I'll find something! __________________ VISIT #FIFTYCHAT! CLICK HERE! ITS THE MOST ACTIVE CFC-RELATED CHATROOM!!! "Banning [Fifty and Perfection] is like a rite of passage for a mod." -Padma "Well, I guess this is a rite of passage for a CFCer." -FredLC on going to fiftychat <@Whomp> Fitty how'd you get so smart <@Whomp> I admire your brain

Apr 28, 2007, 07:17 PM	#2
jonatas tropicalista Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kalakuta Republic Posts: 1,899	Pythagoras is a mysterious subject. He seems to have had influence on Plato and recurs again in Neoplatonism with its emphasis on mysticism and numbers (Porphyry and Iamblichus- I pretty sure Iamblichus wrote on his life). Livy writes a paragraph or two on him in Ad Urbe Condita, but it's in the early part of the book where the history is legendary and mythical. There are other ancient sources as well. About modern writings, I really don't know.

May 02, 2007, 06:39 AM	#5
Atticus Horselover Fat Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 2,797	Theres a copy of The Magic of Numbers be Eric Temple Bell waiting to be read on my nightstand. It is all about Pythagoras, but I can't yet tell if it's good or not, maybe after a week or two. Do you btw want to exclude books that go in details about maths also?

May 02, 2007, 08:32 AM	#6
CartesianFart Deity Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ravenna,ohio Posts: 4,753	I can recall that there is some mentions of the Pythagoreans in Plato's 'Phaedo','Kratylus','Gorgias'.Aristotle wrote some reflections and commentaries of Pythagoras which suffice to say is one of the best,I think,on tackling down on "Pythgorean first-principles" in 'Physics'.Diogenes's "Lives of Philosophers" is a somewhat good read. I have to say that there is a huge list and it takes a special person to not only have the passion to study Pythagorus but also to have the pleasure trying to figure this guy out.I don't care for it though.

May 23, 2007, 04:03 AM	#7
Atticus Horselover Fat Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 2,797	I read the first chapter of tha above mentioned the Magic of Numbers. It was confusing and boring. Can't recommend. If you find a good book, Fifty, perhaps you want to tell us about it? My friend btw was in Amsterdam some time ago and heard Jonathan Barnes' lecture there. He was surprised to see the weirdest looking hippie being the main speaker (my experience tells to be surprised if that isn't the case), but said also that Jonathan was excellent speaker. As his book seems to be very respected one, I'd go for it.

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