Introduction to Arithmetic (Arithmetike eisagoge) was written by Nicomachus

Nicomachus

Nicomachus was an important mathematician in the ancient world and is best known for his works Introduction to Arithmetic and Manual of Harmonics in Greek. He was born in Gerasa, in the Roman province of Syria , and was strongly influenced by Aristotle...

 almost two thousand years ago, and contains both philosophical prose and very basic mathematical ideas. Nicomachus refers to Plato

Plato

Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...

 quite often, and wrote about how philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

 can only be possible if one knows enough about mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...

. This is the only complete book of his that survived to our day. Nicomachus describes how natural numbers and basic mathematical ideas are eternal and unchanging, and in an abstract

Abstract

Abstract may refer to:* Abstract , a summary of a legal document* Abstract , in scientific publishing* Abstract art, artistic works that don't attempt to represent reality or concrete subjects* Abstract structure in mathematics...

realm.

External links

• Nicomachus' "Introduction to Arithmetic" translated by Martin Luther D'ooge.