The Pythagorean Theory of Everything

   As a western, Christian, Baylor student, reincarnation is one of the most foreign belief systems I could encounter. For this reason I find the Pythagorean variant to be both interesting and stimulating. The process of investigating and interrogating the ideas has led me into an arena of thought that is unfamiliar to me. To begin, a look at how it works

From one point of view, it has much in common with Anaximander's "boundless" arche. The soul is immortal, and upon the death of a material form, the soul takes another physical form. This process is repeated until the soul has taken the form of every life form, and then the cycle begins again. While these mechanics are certainly interesting to take apart, dissect, and then reassemble, what I find far more thought provoking are the implications of this view.

To begin with, the idea that all living things possess a common soul is massive. There is an inherent equality between all living things, and therefore a level of respect owed to all life. This duty of respect is intuitively generated when one takes even a rudimentary understanding of something like the Categorical Imperative or the Golden Rule and applies the idea that all life is, on some level, related. Even the Pythagorean emphasis on the preeminence of numbers and numerical patterns is tied to this implication. If all life really were related, we would expect generalizable patterns and similarities to be observed. Though the Pythagorean understanding and application of this idea is metaphysical, it resembles strongly the arguments of modern science. From the Normal distribution to Newtonian laws of physics, there are underlying assumptions that accept patterns as a part of the world we live in and expect observations to inform theories that are generalizable.

I am continually amazed that the ancients could produce ideas that tap into truths that are central to modern life. In this, I am confronted with some of the very biases and assumptions that I am seeking to root out by pursuing philosophy in the first place.

Xenophanes, The Open-Minded

   Before I begin discussing his ideas, interacting with Xenophanes has prompted some tangential thoughts that I would like to address. The way the Greeks conceived of and made use of poetry amazes me. Today, our artists and our academics recognize a clear separation between their fields, but in ancient Greece, it appears common for a serious thinker to also be a poet. This is not to say that modern poets never have profound thoughts, or that modern scholars have no appreciation for beauty. Modern poetry certainly discusses and addresses ideas and issues of substance, but it rarely does so with the treatise-like level of attention Xenaphones gives his work regarding theology.

    Regarding his theology, I find it interesting and significant that he condemns the personalization of the gods as arrogant and inaccurate. This type of analytical thinking is exactly the sort of skill philosophy is oriented toward teaching. Asking hard questions, daring to think differently about the answers, humbling oneself to accept an idea never before encountered, letting go of a long held conclusion that may be inaccurate, and making a stand on what one believes to be the truth are all practices that Xenophanes demonstrates through my readings of him. It seems to me that what I have most to learn from Xenophanes are not his ideas but his methods.

    If I can learn to adapt the example Xenophanes gives to my own life, I believe it will make me a better leader, thinker, citizen and person. It seems to me that stagnation or complacency of thought and emotional attachment to one's ideas are the source of many unnecessarily vicious arguments. If I can move past these hurdles, future dialogue and discussion stands a much better chance of being productive.

What The Heart Wants

Our fair lady Sappho looking a scary amount like Audrey Hepburn
in the posters for Breakfast at Tiffany's

Some an army of horsemen, some an army on foot
and some say a fleet of ships is the loveliest sight
on this dark earth; but I say it is what-
ever you desire: 

and it it possible to make this perfectly clear
to all; for the woman who far surpassed all others
in her beauty, Helen, left her husband --
the best of all men -- 

behind and sailed far away to Troy; she did not spare
a single thought for her child nor for her dear parents
but [the goddess of love] led her astray
[to desire...] 

[...which]
reminds me now of Anactoria
although far away, 

--Translated by Josephine Balmer

Of the samples of Sappho's writings I had the opportunity to read, this is the one that stood out most distinctly. I was so impacted by this poem because in it Sappho is presenting a very radical reinterpretation of what would have been a foundational myth for her contemporaries. Whereas the traditional interpretation of the Iliad glorified acts of war, Sappho chose instead to glorify a different kind of courageous act. Conventionally, courage was recognized in the bold actions of Achilles or Hector that demonstrated loyalty to their kings. Sappho points to the actions of Helen, pursuing loyally the desires of her heart no matter the cost, as the best example of behavior truly worthy of honor. 

The implications of this shift in valuation are interesting. For example, courage would no longer be the mean between acting with rashness or cowardice in the name of a worthy cause, but the boldness to act in obedience to one's desires, even when experiencing fear of negative consequences. Another substantial impact is the emphasis it places on self knowledge. To be loyal to one's heart, a person has to know what they want and why. This requires self examination, self awareness, and introspection. This sort of self knowledge is not emphasized when there is an ethical obligation to live one's life in service of their king, country, or gods. 

This admiration for honesty and unapologetic loyalty to one's own heart is definitely a refreshing viewpoint. I can't say that I sympathize with it, but it has definitely been interesting to entertain some of the logical conclusions that can be derived from such a perspective. 

Asking the Right Questions

Philosophers have a time honored tradition of sometimes viciously, and occasionally constructively criticizing the ideas of those who came before them. What better way to gain insight into a millennia-long dialogue than to go back to the beginning? This is my ambition in studying Classical Philosophy. I hope that by looking to the forefathers of modern philosophy I can gain insight into the reasons for the twists, turns, meanders, and digressions that this never ending discussion has taken. I hope to become a better investigator of the truth and a better examiner of my own life. I hope to learn how to ask better questions, and how to be more open to the answers that I might receive. 

Wish me luck,

LC