Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans (Part 1)

Who is Pythagoras?

Pythagoras, one of the known pre-Socratic philosophers, is hard to be figured out as the main actor of the Pythagoreans. There is unclear and hesitation on the part of many scholars that he is the main actor and author of the group’s philosophic ideas. Even Aristotle, one of the great triumvirates, says that when he mentions the name of Pythagoras in any of his writings, he does not mean that he is – Pythagoras – the one; he is referring to them as a group called the Pythagoreans.

Who are the Pythagoreans?

Pythagoreans are members of a society, a society that is religious by nature. Its founder is Pythagoras, and its foundation has taken place in South Italy, Kroton, during the half of the 6^th century. Some of the noted members are Philolaus and Eurytus.

As a religious group, they devote themselves to idea of purity and purification rituals, believing in the transmigration of souls, i.e. transferring of souls from one entity to another, love of silence, and the influence of music and studying math as aids in tending their souls. According to scholars, their care for the soul is something special compare to the teaching of Homer wherein the latter treats it as a mere shadow-image of the body.

Is it a Religious or Political Group?

Scholars sometimes link the group of Pythagoras to a certain religion called Orphicism. It is because the teachings of Pythagoreans are similar to the religious doctrines of Orphicism. An example to this is the doctrine of transmigration of souls. An attempt to digging on this issue would probably make them unworthy to be part of the history of philosophy. They are more qualified to be part of the history of religion. Another claim is that Pythagoreans as a political group because there was a part of Italy wherein most of the people were identified as part of the group. But the counter-claim to this is the fact that there was no governing exercise happened and was handled by the Pythagoreans. But the influence of their teaching was so pervasive, an attraction to everyone during their times. Thus it is a purely religious and political activity.