Philosopher

Parmenides

Parmenides seeing the pattern in creation retorted that nothing changes. He was a native of Elea, in the southern part of Italy where according to Plato, Socrates as a young man(450 B.C.) conversed with Parmenides.

“To be and to have meaning are the same.” ― Parmenides

Certainly Plato was influenced by the doctrines of Parmenides. Even Pythagoras when he was not pondering mathematics was entangled with mysticism and religion which seeks to know the wisdom of the God of creation.

Parmenides was undoubtedly was influenced by Pythagoras if not by the logic of his math.

“Let reason alone decide” ― Parmenides

Parmenides was historically important in that said to have invented logic by way of revelation.

“Mortals have made up their minds to name two forms, one of which they should not name, and that is where they go astray from the truth. They have distinguished them as opposite in form, and have assigned to them marks distinct from one another. To the one they allot the fire of heaven, gentle, very light, in every direction the same as itself, but not the same as the other. The other is just the opposite to it, dark night, a compact and heavy body. Of these I tell thee the whole arrangement as it seems likely; for so no thought of mortals will ever outstrip thee." ― Parmenides

Parmenides set forth his doctrines in a poem On the Order of Nature.

“It is all one to me where I begin;

for I shall come back again there.”

― Parmenides, On the Order of Nature

It was filled with paradox, irreverence, and alternate views and professed the uniformity of oneness that would open the path to monotheism which suggested a universal brotherhood.

“We can speak and think only of what exists. And what exists is uncreated and imperishable for it is whole and unchanging and complete. It was not or nor shall be different since it is now, all at once, one and continuous.” ― Parmenides

While he saw that cold is the absence of heat and darkness is the absence of light allowing him to also divide opinions often being merely the absence of truth.

“Meet it is that thou shouldst learn all things, as well the unshaken heart of persuasive truth, as the opinions of mortals in which is no true belief at all. Yet none the less shalt thou learn of these things also, since thou must judge approvedly of the things that seem to men as thou goest through all things in thy journey.” ― Parmenides

Empedocles

Philosopher

Parmenides

Empedocles

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