The Legacy of Zarathustra in the Philosophy of Pythagoras: Is the Pythagorean Theorem Zoroastrian?
Dr. José Luis Abreu
PUBLISHED IN ISSUE: V20-n1
KEYWORDS:
PUBLISHED IN ISSUE: V20-n1
KEYWORDS:
ABSTRACT:
This article explores the philosophical and historical intersections between Zarathustra, the ancient Persian prophet of Zoroastrianism, and Pythagoras, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. Drawing upon historical accounts, religious texts, and philosophical frameworks, the study investigates how Pythagorean doctrines—particularly the Theory of Opposites, ethical dualism, and the pursuit of divine wisdom—may have been influenced by Zoroastrian teachings. Emphasis is placed on the cosmological order, moral choice, and metaphysical principles shared by both traditions. Archaeological findings such as the Susa tablet, as well as historical events like Pythagoras’s alleged contact with the Magi during captivity in Babylon, are examined as possible transmission points of Eastern knowledge into Greek thought. Through comparative analysis, the article argues that the ethical and spiritual legacy of Zarathustra played a formative role in shaping Pythagorean philosophy, contributing to the broader foundation of Western metaphysical inquiry.
This article explores the philosophical and historical intersections between Zarathustra, the ancient Persian prophet of Zoroastrianism, and Pythagoras, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. Drawing upon historical accounts, religious texts, and philosophical frameworks, the study investigates how Pythagorean doctrines—particularly the Theory of Opposites, ethical dualism, and the pursuit of divine wisdom—may have been influenced by Zoroastrian teachings. Emphasis is placed on the cosmological order, moral choice, and metaphysical principles shared by both traditions. Archaeological findings such as the Susa tablet, as well as historical events like Pythagoras’s alleged contact with the Magi during captivity in Babylon, are examined as possible transmission points of Eastern knowledge into Greek thought. Through comparative analysis, the article argues that the ethical and spiritual legacy of Zarathustra played a formative role in shaping Pythagorean philosophy, contributing to the broader foundation of Western metaphysical inquiry.
Author(s)
Dr. José Luis Abreu is a research professors at the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Business Faculty, Monterrey, Mexico.
Dr. José Luis Abreu is a research professors at the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Business Faculty, Monterrey, Mexico.
