Alcmæon's Life

I. Alcmæon was a citizen of Crotona; he also was a pupil of Pythagoras. And the chief part of his writings are on medical subjects; but he also at times discusses points of natural philosophy, and asserts that the greater part of human affairs have two sides. He appears to have been the first person who wrote a treatise on Natural Philosophy, as Phavorinus affirms, in his Universal History; and he used to argue that the moon had the same nature for ever which she had at that moment.

I. Alcmæon was a citizen of Crotona and a pupil of Pythagoras. Most of his writings are about medicine. But he sometimes discusses natural philosophy, and he says that most human affairs have two sides. He appears to have been the first person to write a treatise on natural philosophy. Phavorinus affirms this in his Universal History. Alcmæon also argued that the moon's nature remained forever the same as it was at that moment.

II. He was the son of Pirithus, as he himself states at the beginning of his treatise, where he says, “Alcmæon, of Crotona, the son of Pirithus, says this to Brontinus, and Leon, and Bathyllus. About things invisible, and things mortal, the Gods alone have a certain knowledge; but men may form conjectures.…” And so on.

II. He was the son of Pirithus, as he says at the beginning of his treatise: “Alcmæon of Crotona, son of Pirithus, says this to Brontinus, Leon, and Bathyllus. Only the Gods have certain knowledge of things invisible and things mortal. But men may form conjectures.…” And so on.

He used also to say that the soul was immortal, and that it was in a state of perpetual motion in the same way as the sun.

He also said that the soul was immortal and moved constantly, just like the sun.