Plato, Poincare, & Pythagoras: An Initiation Into Esoteric Mathematical Astronomy

The focus of this investigation is the position held by mathematics in the dichotomy of art and science through mathematical astronomy. In particular, we want to answer if the Music of Heavens conjecture is in fact true. The development of Western mathematics originates with Pythagorean ideals; however, deification of Pythagoras in the centuries following his life has led to many false claims surrounding the philosopher. We survey the sources, ancient, classical and modern, to find the Pythagorean leader hardly represented by contemporaneous figures. For instance, Aristotle and the Platonic Akademia discuss Pythagoras in divergent ways; therefore a retrofitted image of reality proves difficult. We explore the philosophical trajectory of universal gravitation theory, aesthetics in mathematics, and the ubiquity of deduction. In light of early modern polymaths such as Kepler and Newton, we find that mathematicians follow Plato while physicists follow Pythagoras. The results of our aesthetical study indicate that mathematical beauty resides in validity and simplicity. Although many ideas are misattributed to the Master Philosopher of the Greeks, he was correct in proposing that the planets are making music.<p></p>