Isbaah Pirwani | November 9th, 2024

When we hear the name Pythagoras, most of us think of his legendary theorem or his contributions to mathematics. His name is almost synonymous with intellectual brilliance, yet history often glosses over the more shadowy aspects of his life. We know about Pythagoras’s famous theorem, but did you know that the man behind the mathematics was far from perfect? Some of the stories that linger on the edges of history suggest that he might have been much more flawed than his image suggests.

Take, for instance, the chilling tale of the scholar who brought Pythagoras the square root of 2, also known as the “Pythagorean constant.” This scholar’s revelation, which introduced the world to the reality of irrational numbers, was groundbreaking. But instead of being celebrated for this discovery, the scholar faced a tragic end. Pythagoras, in an act that seems more suited to myth than history, allegedly had him executed under accusations of witchcraft. Why? The constant √2 is a non-terminating and irrational number — a number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction and whose decimal representation continues infinitely without repeating a pattern. This was an unsettling concept for a society that sought to find harmony and order in mathematics. 

The “evidence” for the crime was the mere fact that √2 did not fit within the Pythagorean belief of whole-number ratios. Rather than seeing this irrationality as a new frontier for understanding, Pythagoras viewed it with fear and suspicion. In his mind, something that defied order and reason was dangerous — perhaps even supernatural.

But that’s not all: it turns out that the famous Pythagorean theorem itself might not have been his original idea. A Babylonian tablet dating back 1000 years before Pythagoras contains what appears to be the same geometric formula. While Pythagoras is remembered as a revolutionary thinker, there’s substantial evidence suggesting that he may have borrowed — or perhaps even appropriated — his most famous contribution from ancient civilizations.

One could argue that these stories, if true, tarnish the image of Pythagoras. It’s not the narrative we expect when we think of a man who shaped mathematics as we know it. However, what’s most compelling about this darker side of Pythagoras is not simply the story of a scholar’s death or an accusation of plagiarism. Instead, it’s a reminder of something far more profound: even the most revered figures in history are human.

Pythagoras, despite his brilliance, was not immune to fear, superstition, or even envy. His actions reflect a very human tendency to reject ideas that disrupt our worldview, to protect our egos when challenged, and to seek out control over the unknown. When confronted with something he could not fully grasp — irrationality — he lashed out, not unlike the way many of us sometimes respond to things we fear or don’t understand.

At the same time, the legacy of Pythagoras — flaws and all — offers us a lesson in humility. We often hold historical figures on pedestals, seeing them as larger-than-life characters who transcend the ordinary, but the truth is that they, too, were shaped by their circumstances, biases, and limitations. Pythagoras’s story serves as a powerful reminder that no one is without fault. Behind the facade of genius, there is always a human grappling with the same emotions, challenges, and imperfections as the rest of us.

The murder of a scholar over irrational numbers may seem like a footnote in history, but it also reveals a fundamental truth: that perfection is an illusion. Just as Pythagoras had his fears and failings, so too do we. We might strive for excellence and yearn to leave a legacy, but our humanity is defined not only by our achievements but also by our mistakes and imperfections. 

For us Vanderbilt students, this reflection holds a powerful lesson. In a competitive academic environment, imposter syndrome can creep in, making students question their place or worth. However, the story of Pythagoras reminds us that even the greatest minds faced doubt and imperfection. Their achievements were part of a broader, collective effort, just as our own contributions will be. Understanding that uncertainty is a natural part of growth — whether in ancient mathematics or modern academia — helps us recognize that greatness does not lie in being flawless but in embracing the journey of discovery, mistakes included.

The next time you hear Pythagoras’s name, think not only of the mathematician but also of the man. Remember that even history’s luminaries were fallible, complex, and imperfect — just like you and me. In recognizing this shared humanity, we can learn to embrace our own flaws and uncertainties with a little more compassion and understanding. After all, the imperfections in life are what make us human, and sometimes, even the most extraordinary among us stumble.

References

Felton, J. (2023, October 2). Pythagorean theorem found on clay tablet 1,000 years older than Pythagoras. IFLScience. Retrieved from https://www.iflscience.com/pythagorean-theorem-found-on-clay-tablet-1000-years-older-than-pythagoras-71429

Oswald, V. (2021, August 4). Babylonian mathematicians beat Pythagoras to his famous theorem by 1,000 years. History Defined. Retrieved from https://historydefined.net/babylonian-mathematicians