Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 652
Davos quickly glanced at everyone: Those who were angry were probably Pythagoreans; Those looking at them with dissatisfaction might be students and teachers of the Akademia and some people of Theonia; those who were bewildered as they didn’t understand what was going on. And in the front row where the invited renowned scholars seated, some with cold-eyed, some intently gazing at the wall panel, some gesturing with their hands as if they were performing calculations…
And why Metitokles, the dean of the Institute of Mathematics, didn’t appear was because he caught a cold. Thus his students even had to do his lecture in his stead. And if a levelheaded person had been present instead, that situation wouldn’t happen.
With that in mind, Davos glared at Marticoris again and then said loudly, “Esteemed guests, this is the hall of academics. In this sacred place full of knowledge, there is no difference between being born with high or low status, nor do we compare the size of our fists nor the loudness of our voices; everything here is about knowledge! Now I stand here, not as a king but as a seeker of knowledge, to seriously ask all the scholars here whether the lecture and the theory made by the young scholar just now are wrong?”
“Well said, your majesty!” Someone in the audience shouted, and then came a round of applause.
As the applause grew louder, Davos had to signal them to quiet down. He then asked loudly again, “Is there a mistake in this theory?”
Silence descended in the room.
Then a Pythagorean stood up and said, “There is naturally a mistake!”
Another loud commotion rose in the hall.
Davos calmly invited him and said, “Very well. You can come up here to verify its error.”
The member shook his head and said, “I don’t need to go up as the topic itself is wrong. There is no such thing as a number independent of integers and ratio of integers!”
Davos’ face darkens, “We prove the authenticity of knowledge through knowledge, not by acting shamelessly! If you Pythagoreans continue disrupting the conference in this way, I will not only question your academic level but also classify you as unwelcome at this symposium and expel you from Thurii!”
Davos continued coldly, “Now let me ask again, is this argument wrong?”
The members of the Pythagorean school, including Lysis, look at each other nervously and uneasily, but none stand up to speak. Why was Hippasus killed back then? It’s because although the Pythagoreans were conservative and stubborn, the level of their mathematics was the top in the Mediterranean. So they knew in their hearts that Hippasus was correct. Hence because of this reason, the members of the school did not dare to touch this field for decades. Thus they certainly do not dare to stand up alone now and turn black into white while being ridiculed by other scholars for their academic standards.
Davos coldly said, “Now I’ll ask you again, is there any error on this?”
Theaetetus, an Athenian mathematician, stood up with a serious expression as he slowly said, “I see no error in Phaestokiadas’ and that the square root of two is indeed…a new figure.”
But as soon as he said that, someone shouted, “You are spouting nonsense!”
Davos’ eyebrows raised as he pointed at the man and shouted, “Drag him out of here!”
The guards immediately rushed over, pulled up the man’s arm and dragged him out of the conference hall.
Davos smacked the table and said sternly, “I already said that anyone who disagrees should come up here to prove it. If anyone still causes trouble, don’t blame me for being impolite!”
After Davos said that, the commotion in the hall went down.
Then several other mathematicians stood up one after another to validate that Phaestokiadas’ theory was correct.
“Bravo, Phaestokiadas!” Some of the audience shouted, some applauded, and some congratulated Phaestokiadas, which resulted in the hall becoming lively.
On the other hand, the Pythagoreans stood up angrily and were about to leave.
Seeing that, Davos said aloud, “Scholars of the Pythagorean School, listen to me before deciding whether to leave.”
Davos’ words caused Lysis and the others to stop temporarily.
Davos solemnly said, “Us humans have developed from the ignorance of ancient times to today’s understanding of the mysteries of nature, which is the result of the efforts of one sage after another in exploring the truth.
Thus, you who are here today undoubtedly have more knowledge and a deeper understanding of the world than the great scholars like Thales of Miletus, Anaximander and Pythagoras a hundred years ago. It isn’t because you are better than them but because you are standing on the shoulders of these giants, inheriting their knowledge and using it to discover more knowledge. That is why we, Greeks and the whole of humanity, are growing stronger, more prosperous, and wealthier. Otherwise, humanity will only stagnate and even eventually wipe out.
Pythagoras was a great scholar who expanded the field of mathematics and enriched its application in society. However, there isn’t an omniscient person in the world, as even Zeus, a powerful god, needs to consult others to know who will replace him.
Many of the insights of the Pythagorean School were discovered by later members, and I am sure you all know it in your hearts. Thus it is only natural for Pythagoras to make some mistakes because he did not know enough about the world back then.
But as long as you can find them and have the courage to correct them, it doesn’t matter if there are mistakes! Thus it allowed Hippasus, an outstanding member of your school, to discover this irrational number!”
Davos patted the wall panel and said excitedly, “He bravely said the truth based on his true love of mathematics. But the truth is often in the hands of a few, and to defend it, they had to pay the price in blood! Hippasus died! He died due to the fear, conservatism and ignorance of the other member of the Pythagorean school!
The shackles of the Pythagorean misconceptions narrowed your mind and intellect. You are like ostriches burying their heads in the sand, thinking that this figure independent of integers and ratio of integers doesn’t exist as long as you don’t see it!”
After saying that, Davos looked at Phaestokiadas and asked, “Tell me, how many different figures are like this?”
Phaestokiadas immediately exclaimed, “There are many more that I haven’t yet calculated, such as the square root of three and the square root of five…these things are mainly in geometric operations!”
“Excellent!” after Davos nodded, he said loudly with more conviction, “I am sure you Pythagoreans rarely bother to study geometry! After all, as soon as you learn geometry, you will encounter this problem! And I am sure it’s not that there aren’t people who harbour doubts about this problem, but because they would choose to back off once they think of Hippasus’ tragedy!
But geometry is supposed to be one of the most important areas of mathematics as it is closely related to our life. But sadly! Because of a misconception, it has become your hidden disease in your mathematical studies for centuries! It has become your stumbling block in perfecting and expanding the field of mathematics!
Today, I would like to tell everyone present a quote, ‘Although I love my teacher, I love the truth more!’ for only truth is the source that keeps this world alive and well! It is there, but only the brave who keep learning, keep trying, defying authority and are not afraid to sacrifice themselves can keep discovering it! Thus I hope that the Theonian Akademia, Pythagorean School and other scholars present today will study the world with this spirit so that you will find more and make our civilisation more prosperous! That’s all I want to say.”
After saying that, the audience stood up and cheered warmly, and even renowned scholars such as Theaetetus applauded.
Marticoris applauded and said excitedly, “That was great! It resonated through my heart! What your majesty said is why I agreed to let Phaestokiadas go up to give the lecture!”
The student behind him applauded desperately as they naturally didn’t have the heart to belittle their teacher, who was only good at research and bad with words.
Some Pythagorean scholars left the hall in anger, while some members, headed by Lysis, chose to stay.
Davos looked at Phaestokiadas and praised him, “You have made such a bold lecture with fearless academic spirit. But I think the scholars of the Mediterranean will appreciate you more because you have removed a major obstacle to their study of mathematics! Thus I hope you can keep this spirit and make greater achievements in your academic research! And make more discoveries!”
Phaestokiadas replied excitedly, “I will, your majesty!”
Davos patted him on the shoulder with relief. Then he faced the audience, bowed his head, and left the conference hall.
Then Lysis and the others looked at his back with complicated expressions.
Theaetetus and the others watched him with respect.
Then more bystanders send him off with more applause.
The incident at the Institute of Mathematics soon spread throughout Theonia’s Akademia, surprising countless scholars and students with the new mathematical discovery, saddened by Hippasus’ death and shaken by the thought-provoking speech of the Theonian king.
Davos’ phrase particularly shook them, ‘I love my teacher, but I love the truth more.’ making countless people discuss it over and over again, which motivated the young students more.
When Plato heard of it, he said to his students, “The words of King Davos prove that he is a sage!”
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