Archytas of Tarentum
Pythagorean, Philosopher and Mathematician King

This 2005 book examines the significance of the mathematician Archytas of Tarentum in fourth-century Greece.

Carl Huffman (Author)

9780521837460, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 May 2005

682 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 4.1 cm, 1.17 kg

Review of the hardback: 'We have here another blockbuster offering from Carl Huffman who has already put us in his debt by a definite study of Philolaus. This work will serve in turn to establish Archytas as a philosopher in his own right, and not simply a footnote to Pythagoras, as has all too often been the case hitherto.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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 2005 study was the first extensive enquiry into Archytas' work in any language. It contains original texts, English translations and a 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 question of authenticity. Carl A. Huffman presents an interpretation of Archytas' significance both for the Pythagorean tradition and also for fourth-century Greek thought, including the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle.

Part I. Introductory Essays: 1. Life, writings and reception
2. The philosophy of Archytas
3. The authenticity question
Part II. Genuine Fragments: 1. Fragment 1
2. Fragment 2
3. Fragment 3
4. Fragment 4
Part III: Genuine Testimonia: 1. Life and writings (A1–A6, B5–B8)
2. Moral philosophy and character
3. Geometry: the duplication of the cube (A14 and A15)
4. Music
5. Metaphysics
6. Physics
7. Miscellaneous testimonia
Appendix: Spurious writings and testimonia
Appendix: Archytas' name.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX], History of ideas [JFCX], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]