The 

Pythagoreans
Pythagoreanism
    > is the philosophy of the
ancient Greek
philosopher Pythagoras , which
prescribed a highly structured way
of life and espoused the doctrine of
metempsychosis (transmigration of
the soul after death into a new
body, human or animal).
   
 
    > one of the most obscure and
complex chapters in Greek
Philosophic history. In the 1st
place, everything relating to the
history of the movement is
problematic; in the 2nd place, it is
extremely difficult to interpret. 
Pythagoras
    >was the founder of this
school, but he is little know
more than a name we know
hardly anything about him,
and nothing at all  with
certainty.
    >he came from the island
of Samos & settled in Croton,
in Magna  Graecia.
    >his activity must have been principally
religious  in character connected with the
 Orphic mysteries, which were in turn
related to the cults of Dionysics.

*Aristotle  speaks of the Pythagoreans in an

impersonal manner & underscores this
vagueness w/ his favorite expression those
called Pythagoreans.
 The  Pythagorean
School
The Pythagoreans settled in a series of cities on the
Italian mainland and in Sicily, and then continued into
Greece proper.    

They formed a league or sect and submitted themselves

to many strange rules and taboos; they did not eat beans
or meat, they could not wear clothes made of wool, or
pick up anything that had fallen, or stir a fire with an
iron, and so on.It is difficult to see the reason for these
rules - if indeed there were any.
2 Groups of Pythagoreans:

1.) Akousmatikoi  Ακουσματικοι, ("listeners")

                -focused on the more religious and
ritualistic aspects of his teachings.

2.) Mathematikoi  Μαθηματικοι ("learners")

                -were supposed to have extended
and developed the more mathematical and
scientific work begun by Pythagoras
*There was a violent democratic reaction in
Croton, and the Pythagoreans were
persecuted. Many were killed and had their
homes burned. The founder escaped and,
according to legend, died shortly afterward.
Later, the Pythagoreans achieved  a new
flowering, called neo- Pythagoreanism. 

More interesting to us at this point, however,

is the meaning of the  Pythagorean order as
such. It was a proper school.
the Pythagoreans spoke of 3 ways of
Life:

1. that of those who buy and sell,

2. that of those who run in the
stadium, and
3. that of the spectators, who limit
themselves to watching.
The Pythagoreans inquisitive foreigners in
Magna Graecia, lived as spectators. This is
what is called the contemplative life. The
main difficulty in leading  this kind of life lies
in the body, with its necessities which subdue
man. The body is a tomb, say the
Pythagoreans; one must triumph over it, but
one must not lose it. In order to accomplish
this, the soul  must first attain the state of
enthusiasm  - that is, ecstasy. Here the
connection  w/ the Orphics and their rites,
founded on mania (madness) and an orgy, is
evident. 
The Pythagorean School utilizes and
transform these rites.

The perfect sophos is at the same time the

perfect citizen; because of this,
Pythagoreanism creates an Aristocracy and
ends up in taking part in politics.

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