Is Pythagoras a philosopher? If so, what do you know about his philosophy?

Question

We remember Pythagoras for his theorem. But did we believe in his philosophy.

Did you know that he was also a great philosopher?

If you know, could you explain his philosophy.

Answer 1

As Pythagoras advocated life choices such as vegetarianism and philosophies detailing reincarnation I would surmise that he was a lot more that just a mathematician.

He worshiped numbers and theorised that the universe was constructed of them , in many ways this was just another philosophical 'atomistic' theory.

Answer 2

Yes, but actually no, and math.

Pythagoras was considered a philosopher for his day because the field of science and math was encompassed by the field of philosophy. Technically, he was NOT a philosopher he was a mathematician.

According to Wikipedia: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AqJs45HOzcYAIoEsE3PS8nCGxQt.;_ylv=3?link=answer&qid=20071204014300AAEHwtt
“Pythagoras of Samos (Greek: Πυθαγόρας; between 580 and 572 BC–between 500 and 490 BC) was an Ionian (Greek) philosopher and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. He is often revered as a great mathematician, mystic and scientist; however some have questioned the scope of his contributions to mathematics or natural philosophy.

He is best known for the Pythagorean theorem which bears his name. Known as "the father of numbers", Pythagoras made influential contributions to philosophy and religious teaching in the late 6th century BC. Because legend and obfuscation cloud his work even more than with the other pre-Socratics, one can say little with confidence about his life and teachings. We do know that Pythagoras and his students believed that everything was related to mathematics and that numbers were the ultimate reality and, through mathematics, everything could be predicted and measured in rhythmic patterns or cycles. According to Iamblichus, Pythagoras once said that "number is the ruler of forms and ideas and the cause of gods and demons."”

You can say his philosophy was numbers, but in some ways he was a numerologist. He believed that he could get meaning out of numbers, more meaning than you would with normal math. Like predicting relationships, understanding the mind of God and so on.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerologist
“Numerology is any of many systems, traditions or beliefs in a mystical or esoteric relationship between numbers and physical objects or living things.

Numerology and numerological divination were popular among early mathematicians, such as Pythagoras, but are no longer considered part of mathematics and are regarded as pseudomathematics by most modern scientists. This is similar to the historical development of astronomy out of astrology, and chemistry from alchemy.

Today, numerology is often associated with the occult, alongside astrology and similar divinatory arts. The term can also be used for those who, in the view of some observers, place excess faith in numerical patterns, even if those people don't practice traditional numerology. For example, in his 1997 book Numerology: Or What Pythagoras Wrought, mathematician Underwood Dudley uses the term to discuss practitioners of the Elliott wave principle of stock market analysis.”

Answer 3

that's an odd question... philosophy doesn't really get introduced somewhere, it grows out of the culture... but anaxagoras was the only one really associated with athens when it was growing into the cutlural center of greece.

Answer 4

He is known more as a Mathematician. I also believe so.