Archytas of Tarentum: pythagorean, philosopher and mathematician king
Editorial CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Mainland Spain
- Publisher CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
- ISBN13 9780521837460
- ISBN10 0521837464
- Type Book
- Pages 665
- Published 2005
- Bookbinding Cloth
Archytas of Tarentum: pythagorean, philosopher and mathematician king
Editorial CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Mainland Spain
Book Details
Archytas of Tarentum is one of the three most important philosophers in the Pythagorean tradition, a prominent mathematician, who gave the first solution to the famous problem of doubling the cube, an important music theorist, and the leader of a powerful Greek city-state. He is famous for sending a trireme to rescue Plato from the clutches of the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius II, in 361 BC. This is the first book-length study of Archytas' work in any language. It contains original texts, English translations and a full commentary for all the fragments of his writings and for all testimonia concerning his life and work. In addition there are introductory essays on Archytas' life and writings, his philosophy, and the authenticity question. The author presents a new interpretation of Archytas' significance both for the Pythagorean tradition and also for fourth-century Greek thought, including the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle.