A devout follower of Socrates, Plato taught even after the great philosopher's death in a grove called Academus, from which we derive the word academy. This was the first institutionalized school of philosophy, and a most interesting inscription was carved over the entrance:
"Let no one ignorant of geometry enter here."
What does geometry have to do with philosophy?
. . .
Consider that.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
The Author
Blog Archive
-
▼
2007
(198)
-
▼
September
(25)
- A Minimal of Deafness
- A Minimal of Life
- A Minimal of Exhaustion
- A Minimal of Joy
- A Minimal of Hindsight
- Logic of the Soul Immortal
- Meta - See The Future
- Academically Speaking
- Wickedness
- Half Empty
- A Series of Questions Regarding Neutrality
- Gnomish
- Life and death,Each gives the other meaning.A mout...
- Just waiting for fate to pull us back together,Lik...
- Senseless Verbiage: A Response
- Foundations
- Provisions are a stronghold for the flesh . . .But...
- Whitewashed Tombs
- Organic Love
- Conclusions Et Al
- Liquid Dropping Sun Up
- Subjectivity of Judgement pt. 2
- Burn Through the Witches
- A Series of Questions Regarding the Subjectivity o...
- In Case of an Emergency
-
▼
September
(25)
3 comments:
Math is built off philosophy thats what Geometry has to do with math.
Oh, I just found the Paragraph about it in my book:
"As Plato states in The Republic, mathematics was an absolute must in the education of all state leaders and philosophers. Accordingly, the inscription over the entrance to his school (the Academy) read: "Let no one destitute of geometry enter my doors.""
Plato's insistence on the importance of mathematics could do with the fact that he studied with the Pythagorean Theodorus of Cyrene and as we know Pythagoras and his followers held lots of stock in his idea that a "philosopher" was one who "gives himself up to discovering the meaning and purpose of life itself... to uncover the secrets of Nature." And Mathematics is the common tool for uncovering those meanings, purposes and secrets.
Altl
Altl - I appreciate that you've done a bit of research before commenting. Especially in the case of a historical figure such as this, context is very important to determine meaning.
I, personally, am of the opinion that a mind that can undergo the rigorous mental training that is required for mathematical studies is a mind that is able to process complicated information of any sort, thus Plato's insistence that you mentally prepare yourself before studying philosophy.
I appreciate your thought, and I don't think our conclusions are mutually exclusive.
Post a Comment