What was Neopythagoreanism?

Neopythagoreanism was a philosophical movement of Hellenistic and Ancient Roman times that revived the doctrines of Pythagoras. Originating in the 1st century BC and flourishing through the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, it focused heavily on the concept of the soul and its desire for a mystical union with the divine. It acted as a bridge between older philosophies and later movements like Neoplatonism.

What we know

• Neopythagoreanism was a school of Hellenistic and Ancient Roman philosophy that revived Pythagorean doctrines. [1, 2]
• The movement originated in the 1st century BC and flourished during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. [2]
• Neopythagoreanism was influenced by middle Platonism and subsequently influenced Neoplatonism. [2]
• A central focus of Neopythagorean thought was the soul and its inherent desire for a unio mystica with the divine. [2]

Where to go next

• whoWho was Pythagoras?
• what caused itHow did Pythagoreanism develop?
• what followedWhat is Neoplatonism?
• compared withWhat is Middle Platonism?
• the bigger pictureWhat defines Ancient Roman philosophy?
• an unexpected connectionHow did ancient Pythagorean ideas reach modern times?Pythagoras's teachings as portrayed in Ovid's Metamorphoses ultimately influenced the modern vegetarian movement.

Sources

• [1]neopythagoreanism (Wikidata Q1147651) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Neopythagoreanism · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Pythagoras · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Pythagoreanism · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Ancient Roman philosophy · CC BY-SA 4.0