Parmenides • on Ways of Inquiry
❝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.❞
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' Ways of Inquiry are a central aspect of his philosophy.
His Ways are presented in his poem "On Nature," and are a response to the question of what exists and how we can know it.
ত In his poem, which divided into three sections: the Proem, Reality (Alētheia), and Opinion (Dóxa), he teaches us that the way of truth is the path of inquiry that leads to knowledge of what is, while the way of opinion is the path of inquiry that leads to ignorance of what is.
ত In fragment 7, the goddess warns Parmenides against the sensory-driven mortal way of inquiry and encourages him to rely on reason and critical thinking, underlining the significance of the first path in comprehending the nature of reality.
Parmenides’ goddess endorses the first route, which recognizes that “what-is” is, and that it must be (it is not to not be), on the grounds that it is completely trustworthy and persuasive.
On the other hand, the goddess warns the youth away from the route which posits “what-is-not and necessarily cannot be,” as it is a path that can neither be known nor spoken of. The reasoning seems to be that along this latter route, there is no concept to conceive of, no subject there to refer to, and no properties that can be predicated of— “nothingness.”
The goddess’ deductive arguments are supposed to follow with certainty from deductive, a priori reasoning.
This
revelation unfolds with the overarching motif of the "ways of inquiry,"
offering Parmenides a profound philosophical framework to explore the
fundamental nature of existence and human understanding.
By studiously avoiding thinking in any way which entails thinking about
“what-is-not,” via reductio, the subject of Reality is concluded to be:
truly eternal—ungenerated and imperishable (8.5-21), a continuous whole
(8.21-25), unmoved and unique (8.21-33), perfect and uniform (8.42-49).
ত What is certain about Reality (whatever the subject, scope, or number of this “reality” is supposed to be) is that there is purportedly at least one thing (or perhaps one kind of thing) that must possess all “perfect” properties, and that these properties are supposed to follow from some problem with thinking about “what is not.”
Parmenides is either denying the existence of the duality completely, or accepting that only one of them properly exists. “Naming” only one opposite (for example, Light) seems to require thinking of it in terms of its opposite (for example, “Light” is “not-dark”), which is contrary to the path of only thinking of “what is,” and never “what is not”.
Given the overall reconstruction of the poem as it stands, there appears to be a counter-intuitive account of “reality” offered in the central section (Reality) - one which describes some entity (or class of such) with specific predicational perfections: eternal—ungenerated, imperishable, a continuous whole, unmoving, unique, perfect, and uniform.
This is then followed by a more intuitive cosmogony, suffused with traditional mythopoetical elements (Opinion) - a world full of generation, perishing, motion, and so forth, which seems in-commensurable with the account in Reality.
It is uncontroversial that Reality is positively endorsed, and it is equally clear that Opinion is negatively presented in relation to Aletheia.
ত Although from the very beginning of her speech, the goddess presents the opinions of mortals (Opinion) negatively in relation to Reality, it does not necessarily follow from these lines that Opinion is entirely false or valueless.
Since mortals are incorrect in their accounts, the particular account offered in Opinion is representative of such accounts, and is presented didactically—as an example of the sorts of accounts that should not be accepted.
If the youth can learn to recognize what is fundamentally mistaken in this representative account (Opinion), any alternative or derivative account offered by mortals which includes the same fundamental errors can be recognized and resisted.
ততত
Parmenides invites us to embark on the path of inquiry guided by reason, seeking to understand the unchanging and continuous nature of existence.
This is achievable by walking the route of Truth, whilst being aware of Opinion as to deny it whenever encountered.
Intellectual Meditations
To further explore philosophical concepts,
delve into the Essence of Universal Truths,
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and experience Cosmic Forms & Ideas.
delve into the Essence of Universal Truths,
expand your mental horizons towards infinity,
and experience Cosmic Forms & Ideas.
Follow noetic trails that lead you to Cosmic horizons
& cultivate your Spirit via the path of Intellect.
Meditate on and Contemplate with,
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