In the process of preparing to testify in a divorce case, Brian had to study one of the strangest books he had ever come across, where religion, mathematics, and the apocalypse intersect. This week, we look at how a religious cult of number worshipers on the Italian coast gave rise to modern science, mathematics, philosophy, and music. In the interim 2500 years, as we have increased our knowledge of the universe using mathematics, we have lost the ability to explain why math is so successful at describing nature. Guest voices include Brian Frye, Errol Morris, Monte Johnson, and Gideon Rosen.

(Transcript: Episode 3-Drowned at Sea)

Reading List

The Discovery of Incommensurability by Hippasus of Metapontum, by Kurt von Fritz

The Ashtray Part 3: Hippasus of Metapontum, by Errol Morris.

The Phaedo, by Plato

Soundtrack

Hammer and Damper, by Blue Dot Sessions

When in the West, by Blue Dot Sessions

Borrie Drie, by Remus

Resistance, by Remus

When you Leave, by Sergey Cheremisinov

Fairy Tale, by Kai Engel

June, by Kai Engel