It may not be the case. The incongruity seems to describe pythagorans ideas not fitting with the irrational numbers.

absurdity and proscribe

Bump for further discussion

What is the hint for 'proscribe'?
Shouldn't it be condone?

The question, especially at the beginning, sounds a bit odd in its meaning.

The (i) _________ of “surds"—irrational roots—with the Pythagoreans’ faith that all phenomena in the universe could be expressed through harmonious ra­tios of whole numbers led the cult to (ii)_________ any mention of their exis­tence to the uninitiated.

if we take a look to the first words - irrational - that is the hint to have B in the first blank.

As a contrast, the second part of the sentence tells us that the universe could be explained by something is harmonious - numbers. However, this numbers are fully understood by a restrict number of people or scientists which turns out is like a cult. This cult proibits to the people external to it to know even the existence of them

That is the meaning and unfolding of the sentence itself.

Regards

Got it now, thank you -- I was actually thinking of 'Condone' meaning prohibit (but it actually means the opposite )

where is the contrast in the sentence

The incongruity of the irrational roots can be expressed, oddly, through the harmonious ratios

Regards

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