Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism

[Fifty]

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]

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]

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

 

[thetrooper]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Pythagoras.html

 

[Fifty]

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!