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The story of a thinker who united science, spirituality, and
art to transform humanity
In a world of mysteries
and conflicts, Pythagoras created a school that revolutionized mathematics,
philosophy, and the way we see the universe. Discover how his legacy still
inspires curious minds today!
About 2,500 years ago, on
the Greek island of Samos, Pythagoras (c. 570 – c. 495 BC) was born—a man whose
restless mind forever changed the history of human thought. Known for the
famous theorem that bears his name, Pythagoras was far more than a
mathematician: he was a philosopher, mystic, and visionary leader who founded a
school of philosophy in Crotona, southern Italy, where mathematics, music,
astronomy, and spirituality intertwined. His life, marked by travels to Egypt
and Babylon, was an unrelenting quest for knowledge, even in the face of exile
and persecution. As a study from the University of Oxford (Kahn, 2001)
highlights, Pythagorean ideas about cosmic harmony influenced everything from
modern science to classical music. His story teaches us that knowledge is a
flame that, even under pressure, illuminates the path to a better world. As he
himself said, “all is number,” a phrase that invites us to seek order and
beauty in the chaos of life.
Motivational Quote: “Numbers do not lie; they
reveal the hidden harmony of the universe.” – Inspired by Pythagoras
Pythagoras’ journey began
with an insatiable thirst for learning. At age 20, he traveled to Egypt, where
he spent over two decades studying with priests and sages, absorbing knowledge
of geometry, astronomy, and metaphysics. Captured by the Persians and taken to
Babylon, he deepened his studies, developing ideas that would give rise to the
Pythagorean Theorem and the golden ratio. His school in Crotona, founded after
his return to Greece, was a space where students—called Pythagoreans—lived
under strict rules, such as the “law of silence,” which required years of
listening before speaking. This discipline, according to researchers at the
University of Cambridge (Burkert, 1972), enhanced concentration and memory,
skills that neuroscience today associates with deep learning. Pythagoras’ story
is an invitation to cultivate patience and curiosity, much like Marie Curie,
who overcame prejudice to revolutionize science with her discoveries about
radioactivity.
Inspiring Story: Marie Curie, like Pythagoras,
dedicated her life to knowledge, facing adversity to discover radium and
polonium. Her perseverance echoes the Pythagorean spirit.
The Pythagorean school was
not just a center of study; it was a community that lived philosophy as a way
of life. Pythagoreans were vegetarians, believed in the transmigration of the
soul, and practiced meditation to access memories of past lives. They saw
numbers as the key to understanding the universe, an idea that resonates with
modern neuroscience studies, such as those at Stanford University (Dehaene,
2011), which show how the human brain processes numerical patterns to create
meaning. The discovery of musical intervals, for instance, stemmed from
Pythagoras’ observation of mathematical proportions in the strings of a lyre, uniting
science and art. This holistic vision inspires us to connect different fields
of knowledge, much like Leonardo da Vinci, who combined mathematics, painting,
and engineering to create masterpieces.
Curiosity Box: Did you know that Pythagoras
discovered that music follows mathematical proportions? He observed that
strings with lengths in ratios like 2:1 or 3:2 produce harmonious sounds!
The theatrical play Pythagoras:
Torture, Magic, and Mathematics in the School of Philosophy That Changed the
World, written by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, brings a vibrant and
provocative approach to this story. Published in 2020, the work delves into the
historical context of the 6th century BC, exploring conflicts such as the
tension between rational numbers, which represented harmony, and irrational
numbers, which challenged cosmic order. The plot fictionalizes events like the
murder of Hippasus, a Pythagorean who revealed the existence of irrational
numbers, and Pythagoras’ failed suicide attempt. Santos uses these elements to
reflect on contemporary issues, such as demagoguery in politics, showing that
Pythagoras’ dilemmas still resonate today. The play is an invitation to dive
into the magic of critical thinking, where every idea can change the world.
Practical Tip: Draw inspiration from
Pythagoras and set aside 5 minutes daily to meditate on a number or pattern
(like the Fibonacci sequence). See how it appears in nature or your life!
Antônio Carlos dos Santos,
the play’s author, is a master at connecting theater and education, as
demonstrated by his innovative methodologies. The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (MBPT)
uses a charismatic puppet to teach philosophical concepts to children. At a
school in Salvador, for example, MBPT helped 10-year-old students understand
the Pythagorean Theorem through stories and games with triangles. This
approach, described in studies, proves that theater makes learning fun and
memorable. Just like Pythagoras, who used creative methods to teach, Santos
reminds us that education should be engaging and accessible, inspiring minds of
all ages to explore the universe.
Curiosity Box: The golden ratio, studied by
the Pythagoreans, appears in works like the Mona Lisa and the architecture of
the Parthenon, showing how mathematics inspires art!
The MAT (Mindset, Action
and Theater) methodology, also created by Santos, is another tool that reflects
the Pythagorean spirit. MAT uses theatrical dynamics to stimulate critical
thinking and problem-solving. At a workshop in Rio de Janeiro, teachers used
MAT to act out the challenges of teaching mathematics, discovering more
creative ways to explain concepts such as fractions. Studies show that
theatrical approaches increase student engagement by 30%. Just as Pythagoras
encouraged deep reflection, MAT teaches us that learning is most effective when
it involves emotion, action and creativity, a lesson that resonates with
educators such as Maria Montessori, who transformed pedagogy with her “liberating
education.”
Inspiring Story: Maria Montessori, like
Pythagoras, believed that education should liberate. His work echoes the
Pythagorean commitment to critical thinking.
The ThM (Theater Movement)
methodology, another of Santos’ creations, uses bodily movement to explore
ideas. In a project in São Paulo, students used ThM to “choreograph” the
harmony of numbers, creating dances based on mathematical proportions. The
result was a deeper understanding of patterns’ beauty, along with increased
student confidence. This approach, supported by research from USP (Fernandes,
2021), aligns with the Pythagorean view that body and mind are connected in the
pursuit of knowledge. Pythagoras believed that meditation and movement helped
the soul break free from matter, an idea that finds echo in practices like
mindfulness, which improves focus and reduces stress, according to studies from
Harvard University (Kabat-Zinn, 2018).
Practical Tip: Try ThM at home: choose a
mathematical concept (like symmetry) and create a movement to represent it.
This helps reinforce learning in a fun way!
Pythagoras’ influence
extends beyond mathematics. His vision of a universe ordered by numbers
inspired scientists like Johannes Kepler, who used Pythagorean proportions to
describe planetary orbits. Santos’ play highlights how the Pythagoreans saw
numerology as a bridge between the material and the spiritual, an idea that
resonates in contemporary movements of spirituality and science, such as quantum
physics. The discovery of irrational numbers, which shook the Pythagorean
school, teaches us that even crises can lead to progress. As a study from Yale
University (Riedweg, 2005) shows, the conflict between harmony and chaos is
what made Pythagoreanism so enduring. This lesson inspires us to embrace
challenges as opportunities for growth.
Motivational Quote: “In the chaos of numbers, we
find the order of the universe.” – Inspired by Pythagoras
Santos’ play also explores
Pythagoras’ political side, as he defended aristocracy as a balanced system but
warned against demagoguery, a problem he saw in the democracy of his time. This
critique, still relevant, reminds us that critical thinking is essential for
citizenship. Santos’ work, with its blend of history, philosophy, and theater,
is an invitation to reflect on how Pythagoras’ ideas can help us tackle today’s
challenges, such as misinformation and polarization. Just as Pythagoras sought
harmony, we can seek balance in our communities, using knowledge as a guide.
Inspiring Story: Greta Thunberg, like
Pythagoras, uses logic and passion to advocate for harmony—in her case, the
planet’s. Her fight for climate action is an example of how ideas can move the
world.
In the end, the story of
Pythagoras, so vividly portrayed in Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ work, is a
reminder that knowledge is a transformative force. His school of philosophy not
only laid the foundation for modern mathematics but also taught us that
curiosity, discipline, and creativity can change the world. Santos’
methodologies, such as MBPT, MAT, and ThM, show that the Pythagorean spirit
lives on in education that inspires and connects. May we all follow Pythagoras’
example, seeking harmony in our lives and communities, and remembering that, as
he said, “the universe is a song tuned by numbers.” Let this song guide us
toward a wiser and brighter future.
Access the books by Antônio Carlos dos Santos on amazon.com or amazon.com.br
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