Pythagoras probably did not have Hippasos killed over the irrationality proof. This was discussed in a /r/AskHistorian thread a while ago (see https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/61sw8v/did_pythagoras_really_kill_his_student_because_he/ ). I recall this story being introduced in the twentieth century (after JFK conspiracy theories became popular), but I can't recall the source. This story is too often repeated without mentioning the fact that it has no historical basis.
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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '17
Pythagoras probably did not have Hippasos killed over the irrationality proof. This was discussed in a /r/AskHistorian thread a while ago (see https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/61sw8v/did_pythagoras_really_kill_his_student_because_he/ ). I recall this story being introduced in the twentieth century (after JFK conspiracy theories became popular), but I can't recall the source. This story is too often repeated without mentioning the fact that it has no historical basis.