Pythagoras: A Genius Who Combined Reason and Religion in His Worldview

For most people, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear about Pythagoras is his famous theorem: The Pythagorean Theorem. The Pythagorean Theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse of a triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

But not many people know that Pythagoras was very religious and superstitious. He believed in reincarnation and soul transmigration. He created a spiritual sect in southern Italy with himself as the main figure of the sect.

His disciples lived together, and followed strict rules while studying his philosophical and supernatural theories. Two sides of Pythagoras’ beliefs, mystical and scientific, seemed incompatible, but Phytagoras did not consider them as a contradiction.

Number Worship

Because mathematical discoveries are the result of pure reasoning, Pythagoras considered them more valuable than discoveries from observation. Before Pythagoras, Egypt had discovered that triangles with a ratio of side lengths 3:4:5 always have a right angle of 90 degrees and had applied it to architecture. However, Pythagoras was the one who discovered the basic principle behind all triangles that have this right angle (the Pythagorean theorem). This principle is universal.

This discovery was very special and had great potential, so Pythagoras considered it a revelation or divine enlightenment. Pythagoras concluded that the universe must be governed by mathematical rules. He argued that numbers can be used to explain the structure of the universe.

The discovery of the Pythagorean theorem changed the way people view the world, so people forgave Pythagoras and his followers who had attached mystical meanings to numbers. Pythagoras gave properties to numbers, for example even numbers are “good” numbers and odd numbers are “bad” numbers, even four as “justice” and so on.

Furthermore, one as a single point, two as a line, three as a flat surface, and four as a solid object. Similar to the modern concept of dimensions.

In the creation of the universe, Pythagoras thought that in the infinity before time was created, God determined a limit, so that everything that would be created could have a real shape. In this way God created a unity that can be measured or counted to form other things.

Pythagoras’ attempt to combine reason and religion was the first to resolve the conflict between philosophy and religion that often arose later.

Concept Back to the concept of reincarnation that Pythagoras believed in. In Greek philosophy, the concept of reincarnation and soul transmigration is called Metempsychosis. When someone dies, their soul is transferred to another body, whether it is human or animal. Metempsychosis is not the same as the concept of reincarnation in Eastern philosophy. The principle of Metempsychosis is based on the soul’s desire to seek new experiences and not the result of judgment from good/evil in the previous life. Metempsychosis fits with Greek philosophy and mythology. In Greek mythology, the gods often take the form of humans or animals to achieve a goal.

Pythagoras was a remarkable figure who contributed greatly to the development of mathematics and philosophy. He was also a religious and mystical leader who founded a sect that followed his teachings. He tried to harmonize the rational and the spiritual aspects of his worldview, and he saw numbers as the key to understanding the universe. He believed in the immortality and transmigration of the soul, which was influenced by his exposure to various cultures and traditions. Pythagoras left a lasting legacy that inspired many thinkers and scholars throughout history.

source: The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (Will Buckingham)