Was it really a woman who invented the Pythagorean theorem?
(not joking) (A sassy theory)
I know that after reading the title, you must think Iâm delusional, that Iâm being sassy, or that Iâm just seeking attention, but I have five good reasons to believe that the Pythagorean theorem was invented by a woman. Let me tell you what they are:
Reason #1: The Pythagorean School.
Pythagoras was a revolutionary for his time and allowed both men and women to study and teach at his school. At the Pythagorean school, women could participate because his philosophy focused on the soul and harmony, not on gender. Furthermore, the idea of the transmigration of the soul meant that knowledge did not depend on the body, which likely allowed for their inclusion. We know that women participated because of the writings of Iamblichus (3rdâ4th century AD) and Porphyry (3rd century AD) who write that there were female philosophers in the Pythagorean community.
Reason #2: Pythagoras did not invent the Pythagorean theorem.
If youâve studied the Pythagorean theorem, youâll know that the most popular belief is that it was the Pythagorean school that developed the Pythagorean theorem, not Pythagoras alone, but itâs actually unknown whether the entire school came together to develop the Pythagorean theorem, whether it was a small group of Pythagorasâ disciples, or a single disciple...đđ
Reason No. 3: Theano: The Mysterious Woman.
It is unclear whether Theano was Pythagorasâs daughter, wife, or merely a disciple, but we know she was connected to him. She was a mathematician and philosopher, and it is said that she studied at the Pythagorean school; Porphyry and Iamblichus also mention her in their writings, iamblichus wrote that she ran the school after Pythagoras' death, besides Teano wrote a treatise on the golden ratio (related to the geometry of the theorem).
Reason No. 4: There is very little information about Pythagoras.
Unlike Plato or Aristotle, Pythagoras never wrote a book, and we know about him only through what others have written. We donât even know for certain what he died of or why, as there are many wild theories about him. If we knew more about him, we could confirm who actually wrote the Pythagorean theorem, but since thatâs not the case, we can only speculate.
Reason #5 (the best of all): Why did Pythagoras take all the credit?
Since it is believed that several male disciples or at least one male disciple developed the Pythagorean theorem, why did Pythagoras âclaimâ the theorem as his own? Although he didnât name the Pythagorean theorem, he probably never revealed who had actually developed it because if he had, it would not have been known as the Pythagorean theorem. Youâre probably wondering where Iâm going with all this, and it boils down to two questions: Is it possible that Pythagorasâs name was used as a shield of legitimacy, under the premise that a discovery of such magnitude would not have been accepted by the society of the time if it were revealed that its author was a woman.?Wasnât the silence surrounding female authorship not an act of appropriation, but rather a survival tactic to ensure the theorem was taken seriously in a world that didnât allow women to be the owners of scientific truth?
Of course, this is just a theory; there isnât enough evidence to confirm it, but there isnât enough evidence to disprove it either. Also keep in mind that this theory was written by me, a 17 year old girl, so donât take it too seriously either, because it lacks solid proof and I came up with it while reading a study about Pythagoras.
Honestly, Iâve been writing my theory for three hours straight, Iâm exhausted, and Iâd really appreciate it if youâd give it a like. Thanks for readingâşď¸