HYPATIA OF ALEXANDRIA

The 60-year life of Hypatia, an astronomer, philosopher and mathematic, native of the then Greek city of Alexandria (nowadays Egypt) show us to an exceptional person. It is also remarkable the fact that, being a woman, she received an open and thorough education in various parts of the present Italy and Greece, supervised by her father, Theon, and in which great philosophers such as Plutarch the Younger had an influence.

Back in her hometown, Hypatia became a teacher to her home people of all faiths, races and origin without distinction. Hypatia was highly respected for her open-mindedness and intelligence. Among her disciples aristocrats and government people were also counted. But being a pagan and a scientific would cause her problems and even her death, as she was stabbed at the hands of religious fanatics.

She taught the doctrines of Plotinus and the Neopythagorean School, which sees philosophy from mathematical logic, and she also influenced three key works of ancient Greece, ie the Arithmetic by Diophantus of Alexandria, Euclid’s Elements and the Treaty of Conics by Apollonius of Perga.

As an astronomer, Hypatia formulated an idea of ​​astrolabe, made an approximate celestial map and invented mechanical devices. Here are some of her ideas:

Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond.

 

Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all.

 

Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fantasies. To teach superstitions as truths is a most terrible thing. The child mind accepts and believes them, and only through great pain and perhaps tragedy can he be in after years relieved of them.

 

In fact men will fight for a superstition quite as quickly as for a living truth –often more so, since a superstition is so intangible you cannot get at it to refute it, but truth is a point of view, and so is changeable.

 

He who influences the thought of his times, influences all the times that follow. He has made his impression on eternity.

 

Regardless of our Colour, Race and Religion –We are Brothers.

 

Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.

 

To rule by fettering the mind through fear of punishment in another world is just as base as to use force.

I wish you a happy week,

Álex Rovira