Study Notes on Pythagoras of Samos

THE EVIDENCE: PYTHAGORAS OF SAMOS

PLATO'S REFERENCES TO PYTHAGORAS

  • Plato's Reference 1 (Republic 600A-B)

    • Discusses Pythagoras as a celebrated figure akin to Homer.

    • Emphasizes the personal influence he had as a guide and educator, establishing a lineage of thought termed 'Pythagorean'.

    • Significance: Pythagoras is portrayed as a loved figure, whose adherents created a distinctly Pythagorean lifestyle that persists to modern times.

  • Plato's Reference 2 (Republic 530D)

    • Relates astronomical and harmonic sciences, noting the Pythagorean connection that these are intertwined ('sister sciences').

    • Importance: Suggests an underlying philosophy in Pythagoreanism that marries science and ethics.

DUALITY OF PYTHAGOREANISM

  • Themes of Pythagoreanism

    • The two faces of Pythagoreanism:

    • Religious and Ethical

    • Philosophical and Scientific

    • Central Questions:

    • How are these aspects connected?

    • Did both originate from Pythagoras himself?

  • Controversies

    • The study of Pythagoreanism has generated various interpretations, often due to the unsatisfactory quality of evidence.

    • Important works exploring these tensions include:

    • Cornford's 'Mysticism and Science in the Pythagorean Tradition'.

    • Burkert's 'Weisheit und Wissenschaft', also known as 'Lore and Science in Ancient Pythagoreanism'.

PLATO’S INFLUENCE

  • Impact on Understanding Pythagoras

    • Plato infused Pythagorean concepts into his own metaphysics, notably in texts like the 'Phaedo', combining eschatological teachings with ethics in a philosophical dialogue.

    • Caution advised when utilizing Plato’s dialogues as evidence for authentic Pythagorean teaching due to potential reworkings of original material.

  • Impact on Later Thought

    • Plato's numerological ideas influenced subsequent philosophers within the Academy, resulting in a Pythagorean style metaphysics that some scholars argue distorted Pythagoreanism.

    • Notable resistors: Aristotle challenged the Platonists’ interpretations, noting Pythagoreanism's primitive nature in contrast to the more developed Platonism.

LITERARY GAPS IN PYTHAGOREAN EVIDENCE

  • Absence of Writings

    • Pythagoras left no written texts, creating a void filled by numerous later writings, often lacking historical accuracy regarding his doctrines.

    • Literature regarding Pythagorean doctrines includes physics, ethics, politics, and metaphysical doctrines often deemed pseudonymous in origin.

  • Key Biographical Texts

    • The Lives by Diogenes Laertius, Porphyry, and Iamblichus are often mentioned, containing mixed truthful elements and outdated beliefs.

EARLY REFERENCES TO PYTHAGORAS

  • General Reputation

    • Noted dubious reputation as a sage, with various ancient writers commenting on Pythagoras’ qualities.

  1. Heraclitus' Critique

    • Suggests knowledge amidst ignorance, possibly referencing Pythagoras as unworthy of his stature, emphasizing a lack of understanding despite being polymathic.

  2. Herodotus' Account

    • Relates narratives about Salmoxis, connecting his mystical teachings with those of Pythagoras, ultimately questioning Pythagorean wisdom.

  3. Ion of Chios and Empedocles

    • Ion acknowledges the reputable wisdom of Pythagoras, while Empedocles lauds his intellectual prowess and perceived community impact.

PYTHAGOREAN BELIEFS

  • Reincarnation and Metempsychosis

    • Evidence from Xenophanes

    • Alleged incident of Pythagoras showing compassion towards a puppy, indicating a belief in reincarnation.

    • Views from Herodotus

    • Egyptian influence and beliefs in reincarnation and the cyclical nature of life reported, suggesting origins for Pythagorean thought.

ORPHIC CONNECTIONS

  • Clement and Herodotus

    • References to Pythagorean texts associating him with Orphic traditions, suggesting practices and beliefs likely borrowed from or shared with Orphic cults.

  • Ritual Practices

    • Pythagorean practices avoiding wool in rituals reflect similarities with Orphic tenets, revealing connections between the two belief systems.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF PYTHAGORAS

  • Biographical Insights by Aristoxenus

    • Described as both a Samian and potentially a Tyrrhenian.

    • Significant points of departure included his rejection of tyranny and influence in various city-states like Croton, admitted into historical accounts of Pythagoreanism.

  • Pythagorean Influence & Political Engagement

    • The rise of Pythagoras and his followers in the political arenas of Croton, leading to conflicts with prominent citizens.

CULTURAL IMPACT AND LEGACY

  • Miracle Stories

    • Accounts of Pythagoras performing miraculous acts, shaping his reverence in later cultural contexts, leading to comparisons with shamanistic figures.

ACUSMATA: PYTHAGOREAN MAXIMS

  • Definition and Role

    • The Pythagorean 'acusmata', or teachings transmitted orally, included maxims on ethics and conduct designed for the initiate.

  • Key Themes

    • Emphasis on abstention and ethical living, linking to broader Pythagorean ethical principles and beliefs.

PYTHAGOREAN ETHICAL TEACHINGS

  • Rules of Abstinence

    • Specific prohibitions against certain foods and behaviors illustrating Pythagorean ethics, often intertwined with mystical beliefs about the soul and nature.

CONCLUSION

  • Pythagorean Contribution

    • Pythagoras is remembered as a philosopher primarily through his status as a sage. His substantial influence on Greek thought remains enduring but ambiguous, particularly regarding his esoteric teachings and methods of inquiry.