Pythagoras: A life

Description

Today, Pythagoras is best remembered as a mathematician (Pythagoras’ theorem) and for his mystical religious beliefs (the transmigration of souls) but his seminal influence as a thinker has been largely misunderstood. This new biography of the philosopher aims to make available to a wide range of readers the events of his life and his theories, and to present Pythagoras not primarily as a mathematician and scientific genius nor as a poetical and mystical phenomenon but as a man of his times subject to diverse influences. Peter Gorman considers that the mystical and esoteric interpretations of Pythagoras’ work have now been vindicated and that modern attempts to describe him in terms of more primitive cultures have been based upon mistaken ideas about Greek mentality and the civilisation of the sixth century BC. The concise chronological narrative precludes a more comprehensive discussion of this civilisation, exemplified by such fascinating figures as Sappho and Ibycus. Mr Gorman’s lucid account, however, allows Pythagoras, his times and influence to emerge more clearly than in many larger works and in a manner comprehensible to the general reader as well as to the classical scholar. THE AUTHOR: Peter Gorman was born in Melbourne, educated in Australia and Europe, and has travelled extensively in the East. Mr Gorman has a background in Classical Studies but he considers that his knowledge of mystical philosophy and an intuition into the psyche of the ancient Greeks have been of greater value to him in compiling the present work. Cover Page Half Title Imprint Contents Introduction 1 Origins 2 The Philosophers 3 Egypt and Babylon 4 Return and Exile 5 Magna Graecia 6 The Society 7 Mystical Numbers 8 The Cosmic Music 9 The Final Years 10 The Heritage of Pythagoras Notes Select Bibliography Index