ON THE OBSCURE ORIGINS OF THE PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM Responding to: “Why was the Pythagorean Theorem considered a philosophy at that time? I thought it’s a theorem?” It’s somewhat speculative, since those things happened so long ago. We actually don’t have a lot of actual surviving evidence of the work of Pythagoras. Mathematicians assume he originated the theorem, but (so I have heard) without any actual direct evidence. According to my philosophy professor, it was not actually called the Pythagorean Theorem until the time of Euclid in Rome, hundreds of years later. Thus it is uncertain that Pythagoras actually originated the theorem. What is certain is that Pythagoras knew about musical harmonies and had a limited understanding of the relationship of prime numbers and odd numbers. We know he inspired musicians, and that part of his school, which later branched from the musicians, was devoted to mathematics. However, we do not even know if Pythagoras knew any formulae. There is no record any longer (at least in the philosophical tradition) of his introducing the Pythagorean Theorem. The theorem is introduced in math textbooks without reference to the historical Pythagoras, except to provide a background of what we understand his influence was, and that the theorem is ascribed to him. The actual facts are unclear. However, what is clear is that even at the time of Aristotle over a hundred years later, the Greeks regarded Pythagoras as a philosopher, because at that time philosopher was the nearest term to an educator or scientist. Pythagoras was regarded as a profound thinker in similar terms to a small group of other influential thinkers, particularly the earlier Milesians (Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes). At that early period in history, there were fewer theories, and it made sense to consider mathematics as one of many alternate theories. Thus it was a form of philosophy. That mathematics became so important was in part because of its popularity, and because it gave a sense of proving something while also looking intelligent. The big insight is that at that time in history, mathematics was occult! It’s almost as if mathematics is a psychological fluke. In another society (in another universe so to speak), we might put political epiphanies or ‘dance rumors’ on par with mathematics. But not here. That’s just the way we have evolved. Away from embarrassment, and away from ideas that don’t look like proof. In part because of the ideas and experiences of the academic traditions: the death of Socrates, the importance of the military, the influence of the Sophists, the early appeal of scientific education, forms of disillusionment and the popularity of irony, etc. etc. In short, apart from history, mathematics might not even be one of the best ways to realize our potential. It’s a little bit like obscure adaptations like fluorescent camouflage in the ocean, or the ability to build ant-hills. Even math is not perfect, and comes with some downsides. Coppedge, Nathan / SCSU 2017 / 01 / 16, p.