Episode 105. 18:53 Working Tools Series: Eureka!

Pythagoras, the man and myth, was a pioneer. He was the first to call himself a philosopher. He spiritualized mathematics and believed that numbers are the basis of all science and philosophy. He applied mathematics to his studies of geometry, music, and planetary movements. 

“We could think of Pythagoras as a model for modern Freemasons because crying ‘Eureka’ suggests a delight in the discovery of philosophical, moral, and scientific truths.”

But is it possible that our ancient friend and Brother did NOT invent the 47th problem? Brad Phelps joins us to unpack a thought-provoking article by C. Douglas Russell. 

Transcript

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An article across my desk this week with the claim, Pythagoras did not invent the 47th problem. Could that be. I feel like I'm out over my skis on this type of a topic. So thank you Brad Phelps, our Grand Lodge education officer for joining us in studio. Again, welcome. So I know you're not gonna ask me whether that could be Well, I, I won't put you on the spot. so I found this full article. It was taken from the December, 2024 issue of Fraternal Review. Let's go through it. Sure. Did you say Eureka when you opened it? Get out. Go for it. Get out. Pythagoras is both a historical and mythical figure. He left no written records. But we do have many accounts of his life and teachings. In one version of his life story, his father was a merchant named Nas Sarkis. In another version, his father was Apollo, the Greek God of light truth, music and poetry. This essay does not aim to clearly separate fact from fiction. Readers interested in doing so are encouraged to consult the references provided and draw their own conclusions. In some instances, we may never be able to distinguish the man from the myth. Pythagoras was born around five 70 BCE on the ancient Greek island of Samos. Shortly before his birth, his father was traveling and stopped to consult the famous Oracle at Delphi. This involved meeting with a priestess who channeled wisdom and prophecies attributed to Apollo. Her name is the Pythia. She told Nas Sarkis that his wife was pregnant with a son who would be wise and beautiful. An extraordinary being who would bring great benefits to humanity. NAS Sarkis changed his wife's name to S and named his son Pythagoras when he was about 40 years old. Pythagoras founded his school, a spiritual community devoted to virtuous living and the study of philosophy in mathematics. He was a shining link in the golden chain of great sages, who since time immemorial have studied and enhanced perennial spiritual traditions Down through the ages. Pythagoras was a pioneer. He was the first to call himself a philosopher, meaning one who seeks and loves wisdom. He spiritualized mathematics. He believed that numbers are the basis of all science and philosophy. He applied mathematics to his studies of geometry, music, and planetary movements contributing toward the transformation of all such studies into sciences. He was also the first to call the universe a cosmos, meaning it is well ordered and beautiful. He also saw the human being as a microcosm containing all the powers of the divine universe, the macrocosm. About 200 years after Pythagoreous time, the Greek mathematician Euclid wrote Elements, a treatise on geometry. While living in Alexandria, a great cultural center in Egypt, elements presented the 47th problem as a fundamental principle in mathematics, widely known as the Pythagorean Theorem. It eventually led to the development of algebra and trigonometry. Euclidean Geometry continues to provide a foundation for the math students of today. The 47th problem has been described as the root of geometry in most applied mathematics. It is essential in engineering and astronomy and in surveying on land and navigation on the seas. Just as two plus two equals four is always true throughout the universe. So does this theorem represent absolute truth? It is true for all time and all cultures whether the units of measurement are inches, miles, or light years. It is described in Anderson's constitutions of 1723 as quote, the foundation of all masonry, sacred, civil, and military unquote. A largely mythical story. A Pythagoras appeared in the lecture of the Master Mason degree over 200 years ago. Brother Carl Claude has provided this quote from Webb's Freemasons monitor the 47th problem of Euclid. This was an invention of our ancient friend and brother, the great Pythagoras. Who in his travels through Asia, Africa, and Europe, was initiated into several orders of priesthood and was also raised to the sublime degree of a master mason. This wise philosopher enriched his mind abundantly in a general knowledge of things, and more, especially in geometry or masonry. On this subject, he drew out many problems in theorems Among the most distinguished. He erected this when in the joy of his heart, he called Eureka in the Greek language, signifying I have found it, and upon the discovery of which he has said to have sacrificed a ome, he teaches masons to be general lovers of the arts and sciences. How does this problem teach Masons to be lovers of the arts and sciences? The author says, we will address this question after looking at mythical and factual aspects of this ritual. Text. Pythagoras did not invent the 47th problem. Babylonians and Egyptians knew about its centuries earlier. He was not initiated a Master Mason. This is today's third degree, which was developed during the 1720s. Pythagoras did not sacrifice a heath home or 100 cattle. He was a vegetarian and probably owned no cattle. it was the great mathematician Archimedes, who made a scientific discovery and exclaimed Eureka about 200 years after Pythagoreous time. What are your thoughts on that so far, Brad? You know, it's funny, I, I had heard the vegetarian piece at Masonic Camp and I was gonna ask you if you knew about that. So that's interesting that, that, that's brought up. Honestly, the thing that's most striking is, I, I love hearing about this. I have a tendency to think about people that are smart, like Pythagoreous and think what it must be like to look inside their mind. Hearing about how the cosmos is constructed and macro chasm and the microcasm. And you can almost see a conductor like orchestrating the planets. And, and I love the imagery of that. Uh, it's, it's. It's mind blowing. We take for granted things that are important and I think so far what you've read is a good reminder of the things that we, we maybe take for granted. Uh, I have more, but is there more to the paper? Yes. Alright. When ritual language is not factual, we can approach it as allegory or as this word is spelled. Myth history. Ancient biographers tell us that Pythagoras did travel widely becoming a learned man through contact with diverse cultures and undergoing numerous initiations. Today, we might consider him a master mason in the sense that the term was sometimes used in the middle Ages and Renaissance architects and sculptors and those who supervise the building of great edifices, all being highly educated men were considered master masons. We could also think of Pythagoras as a model for modern Freemasons because crying, Eureka. Suggest the delight in the discovery of philosophical, moral, and scientific truths as to teaching the love of the arts and sciences. There's a lecture in the second degree of masonry about the seven liberal arts and sciences. They're often divided into the trivium, grammar, rhetoric, and logic in the quadrivium, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. As to the trivium, Pythagoras apparently was a master in the use of language, widely known for his elegant and persuasive public speaking. he applied logic to his groundbreaking studies of the entire quadrivium. He applied mathematics to geometry, music, and astronomy. Placing each of these disciplines on a more scientific basis, measuring vibratory frequencies of musical notes. He learned that pleasant musical sounds came from vibrations, in mathematical ratios of two to one, three to two, and four to three. He's credited with the idea that the earth is round, not flat. Pythagorean thought the motions of the stars and planets could be understood through mathematics. They also challenged the idea that the earth is the center of the universe, believing that all celestial bodies revolve around a central fire in quotes. This eventually led to the discovery centuries later that the Earth and other planets all revolve around the sun. love of the arts and sciences is suggested by a legend recorded in the old charges of the stone masons, and related to a Bible story, A pillar of brick and one of stone we're inscribed with all human knowledge. To preserve it in the event that God destroyed the earth by fire or flood After the Great Flood, Pythagoras and Hermes. Tris Mastis. Each found one of the pillars and conveyed the knowledge to future generations. Love of the Arts and sciences is also suggested by Pythagoreous connection to Apollo. This God of Truth and Knowledge was closely involved with the Nine Muses who are sources of inspiration to poets, playwrights, astronomers, and others. The Muses came to represent many domains of knowledge, and during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, They were symbolically associated with the seven liberal arts and sciences as sources of divine knowledge, inspiring human creativity. This article was written by c Douglas Russell, and really packs a lot to think about. Yeah. It leaves me speechless, to be honest. Were you good in geometry? Math was never my thing. I did okay in geometry, but when then we got into algebra and trigonometry, that was light. That was curtains for me. Yeah, it was the same way. It's kind of funny to hear Mason say that they weren't very good at geometry, but it's, it's the sad reality. What have you taken away from this paper today? The Beauty of Humanity, but I've known that for a while. Um, we are a wondrous group. The world needs hope right now. Reflecting on some of the more ancient discoveries and being able to apply it to a world that's maybe forgotten and is too focused on being right. Worrying about pronunciations as opposed to the message. when you said ancient, is it ancient and yet timeless? Timeless is maybe a better word. It's just it is, and we're discovering it and trying our best to describe it, and I promise you we don't have it. Right. If we had it right, we would've never discovered that the world was a globe as opposed to flat. Although there's probably those that would still argue and that's great. We can talk about that. There's still a few, uh, entitled their opinion. That's great. Whatever, or. Somebody that had the courage enough to take pleasing notes and challenge them in context and present dissidents, which is striking in its own way and maybe sends a different message. Um, there's just so many beautiful things to be reflected on and discovered and to do. And, you know, you can apply these things to Newton. pushing something into motion, um, it's not enough just to think about it. You have to follow through and make it happen. And just marrying up these Masonic ideas with truths and how we observe it in form of science is a really interesting take on the world. I really love the line. We could also think of Pythagoras as a model for modern Freemasons because crying Eureka suggests a delight in the discovery of philosophical, moral, and scientific truths. I don't have anything else to say If someone wants more of articles like this, first of all, thanks to see Douglas Russell for the, this has really been thought provoking. You can go to research lodge.com for more. Like it. Brad Phelps, you have been a very dedicated servant of the craft as the Grand Lodge Education Officer, and I'm always grateful to have you here. I'm honored.