Aesthetical Beauty of Mathematics and the Pythagorean Theorem

Abstract

We presented a brief discussion on the aesthetic beauty in its historical basis, referring to the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras of Samos (c. 569 - c. 475 BC). The Pythagoreans have observed a clear connection between beauty and mathematics. One of the first mathematical knowledges of human history, the Pythagorean Theorem, considered the first main geometric information, has at least six qualities that can be attributed to mathematics in general: universality, objectivity, truthfulness, aesthetics, resistance and applicability. These attributes can also be credited to some degree to Arts. Just as great artists can achieve the goal of making their names universal from their illustrious masterpieces, the same occurs with those who studies and proposes mathematics. And what mathematics and art have in common? The answer is surprisingly positive: whatever type of art, whether painting, music, sculpture, dance, theater, film or poetry, art and math are based on abstraction, the use of imagination and primordial objects, as the shape or sound against numbers. In fact, mathematicians usually designate certain evidence by the adjective elegant, a very particular aesthetic term of this distinct area, and also extensively used for the characterization of artistic works.