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History of Philosophy Series :Pythagoras of Samos .

Pythagoras of Samos (580 BC-500BC) :

Born in the Greek island of Samos in the Northen
Agean Sea , -
Off the coast of Asia Minor of modern day 
Turkey ;
It was around late 6th century BC !
He settled in Croton , a Doric Greek colony -
Of southern Italy , in 529 BC .
Lectured mostly in philosophy and mathematics .
Started a secret society called the Order of the 
Pythagorians ; 
They followed rigid ascetic practices and were
strict vegetarians !
Pythagoras is said to have traveled extensively –
visiting foreign lands ;
And in him the traditional knowledge of other
classical civilizations blend ;
Wherein we can also find , a mystical trend !
He is said to have picked up geometry from
the Egyptians ;
Arithmetic from the Phonesians , and astronomy
from the Chadeans !
His mystical trends and religious practices came
from the Orient !
These mystical believes include the belief in the
transmigration of the soul ;
While his pupils carried on his noble traditions !
He had taught verbally , and is quoted by Plato
and Aristotle frequently !
And alluded to by Neoplatonist philosophers of 
later history !

His Musical Theory :-
His number theory was rather unique and exotic ,
His mystical thoughts blending with mathematics !
Even numbers were said to be feminine ,
And odd numbers stronger and masculine !
Since even plus odd always gives odd , 
While two evens could never produce an odd !
But the numbers that impressed him the most ,
Were found by him in the Musical Ratios - 
as we can see ;
As I had mentioned in my poem “Pythagoras and
his Music of the Spheres” already ;
From which I now proceed to quote liberally !
Pythagoras is generally known for his famous
theorem of geometry , 
Had a scientific bent of mind which did blend
with his philosophy !
He is the first Greek philosopher credited to 
have heard , -
Cosmic music of the heavenly bodies in their
diurnal orbit round the sun !
The Book of Job speaks of a time when the stars 
of the morning sang together while afloat !
And in his ‘The Merchant of Venice’ , Act V,
Shakespeare wrote :-
“There is not the smallest orb that thou beholdest
But in their motion like an angle sings ,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins ,
Such harmony is in the mortal souls ,
But whilst this worldly vesture of decay 
Doth grossly close it in , we cannot hear it !”
(Musical Theory of Pythagoras : to be continued.)

educationhistorymusicmusicphilosophyrhyme

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