Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher whose teachings emphasized immortality of the soul and reincarnation. He taught that the concept of "number" cleared the mind and allowed for the understanding of reality.

What is Pythagoras famous for?

Pythagoras is best known in the modern day for the Pythagorean Theorem, a mathematical formula which states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides. However, during his lifetime, he was viewed as a mystic rather than a mathematician.

Pythagoras

Definition

Pythagoras (l.c. 571 to c. 497 BCE) was a Greek philosopher whose teachings emphasized the immortality and transmigration of the soul (reincarnation), virtuous, humane behavior toward all living things, and the concept of "number" as truth in that mathematics not only cleared the mind but allowed for an objective comprehension of reality.

More about: Pythagoras

Timeline

c. 571 BCE - c. 497 BCE
Life of Pythagoras of Samos; claim that "number" is the First Cause of existence and the soul is immortal.
c. 530 BCE
Pythagoras founds a school of mathematics in the city of Croton (southern Italy).

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