Since there has been philosophy

Author: Zhu Yuelong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-31
Features: Wisdom is more precious than anything else, and knowledge is what you can gain through hard effort. You can change your nature by studying diligently. Around 580 BC, Pythagoras was born on the island of Samos in the Aegean Sea. Samos was at its peak at that time, far surpassing the city-states of mainland Greece in terms of economy, culture, and other aspects. Pythagoras's father was a merchant, and some who revered him said he was the son of the sun god Apollo. At the age of 9, his father sent him to scholars in Syria to study Eastern religion and culture. Pythagoras visited Thales, Anaximander, and Philolaus and became their students. Because of his promotion of rational theology and his Eastern-style clothing, Pythagoras provoked resentment. The people of Samos had long held prejudices against him, viewing him as eccentric and promoting heretical doctrines. He was forced to leave home and travel to Egypt, where Pharaoh Amasis recommended him to study in a temple. He spent 10 years studying hieroglyphs and Egyptian mythology, then promoted Greek philosophy and was respected by many. Pythagoras was the first to use the term "philosophy." He believed that a philosopher should be a lover of wisdom, and "philosophy" means "love of wisdom," or "the effort to approach wisdom." At the age of 49, Pythagoras returned to his homeland. Around 520 BC, dissatisfied with the rule of the tyrant Polycrates, he moved with his mother and his only disciple to Croton in southern Italy. There he attracted many disciples and established a unified group of religion, politics, and academia, known as the "Pythagorean Brotherhood." His lectures drew a large audience. At that time, women were forbidden from attending public meetings, but Pythagoras broke this custom. Among the enthusiastic female listeners was his later wife, Theano. Later, as Pythagoras became entangled in political struggles, he was driven out by opponents and died a violent death in a temple at the age of 80.
Pythagoras's mathematical philosophy held that numbers are the essence of all things, the principle by which existence is formed. Pythagoras believed that the origin of numbers is the beginning of all things. His study of mathematics was not for practical use but to explore the mysteries of nature. From five apples, five sheep, and other objects, he abstracted the concept of "5," a great advancement in philosophy that led people to believe that numbers are the foundation of the physical world. Pythagoras conducted extensive research on numbers, distinguishing concepts such as odd and even numbers, prime numbers, perfect numbers, square numbers, triangular numbers, and pentagonal numbers. In his view, numbers provide a conceptual model for the universe, and quantity and shape determine the form of all natural objects. Numbers not only have quantity but also geometric shapes. In this sense, numbers can be understood as the form and image of natural objects, the source of all things. All phenomena and laws in nature are determined by numbers. He further proved his theory by explaining the connection between numbers and physical phenomena.
Pythagoras arbitrarily elevated the non-material, abstract concept of numbers to the origin of the universe, believing that "everything is number," and that the entire universe is a harmonious system of numbers and their relationships. He mystified numbers,