Pythagore

Summary

What Dominique Pagani takes first from Pythagoras is the formula "all is number," which he presents as the principle of a metaphysical age. In his view, digital technology and artificial intelligence are realising it today1. He often comes back to acoustics: by dividing the string at its midpoint, Pythagoras obtains the octave. This is the first applied mathematics, in which a numerical relation "acquires a being" and speaks to the ear2. From it come the distinction of the modes, the music of the spheres, and a complicity between mathematics, music and philosophy that Plato carries on34. He also places Pythagoras, together with Thales, at the origin of theoretical mathematics, before Euclid. He compares two proofs of his theorem5 and notes that Pythagoras limits number to the natural integers. He rejects, however, the "mysticism of numbers": his own reflection on the triangle and on the passage from two to three has nothing to do with it6. Finally, he mentions legends such as the golden thigh or the death before a field of beans. Pythagoras thus dies of his religious convictions, not of his equations.

1. 1From Copernicus to Lenin: revolution!28 Aug 2026 · 1:16:40
2. 2#7 Answers to questions (continued)3 Dec 2020 · 1:06:22
3. 3#15 Plato, Rousseau, Hegel and music9 Feb 2021 · 22:25
4. 4#15 Nietzsche: philosophical or musical relevance? Answers to questions23 Jun 2022 · 12:49
5. 5#9.16 How can sciences of history be real?4 Mar 2021 · 1:38:41
6. 6E for Enfance (Childhood)19 Dec 2014 · 2:09

Summary produced automatically from 39 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.