Plato versus Parmenides : the debate over coming-into-being in Greek philosophy

199 Pages·2011·1.09 MB·english

by  Parmenides.

Plato versus Parmenides

Plato versus Parmenides
The Debate over Coming-into-
Being in Greek Philosophy
Robert J. Roecklein
LEXINGTON BOOKS
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may quote passages in a review.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Roecklein, Robert J., 1960–
Plato versus Parmenides : the debate over coming-into-being in Greek
philosophy / Robert J. Roecklein.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-0-7391-5077-1 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Plato. 2. Parmenides. 3. Knowledge, Theory of. 4. Political science—
Philosophy. 5. Ontology. 6. Becoming (Philosophy) I. Title.
B398.K7R64 2011
182'.3—dc22
2010035235
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for
Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Printed in the United States of America
In memory of my mother and father

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1 Parmenides’Argument 13
2 ParmenidesandtheMilesianPhilosophies:“NothingComes
fromNothing”—PhysicsorLogic? 37
3 Parmenides’InfluenceonEmpedoclesandAnaxagoras 57
4 Plato’sSocratesandHisTheoryofCausation 83
5 TheParmenides:Plato’sProofofComingtoBe 121
6 TheTheaetetus:Plato’sProofThattheObjectsofKnowledge
AreIndivisible 159
Bibliography 187
Index 195
vii

Acknowledgments
This book has been long in the making. I would first of all like to thank Dr.
Richard Aquila, then director for the School of Humanities and Social Sci-
ences at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, for helping to make my
research possible. I am deeply grateful to the political science department
here at Behrend as well: Dr. Robert Speel, chair; Dr. John Gamble, Distin-
guished Professor of International Law; Dr. Zachary Irwin; Dr. Chris Cook;
andDr.CeliseSchneider.
I have often worked out the substance of the arguments presented in this
work as a teacher in undergraduate classes in political philosophy. My stu-
dentshavemadeaverysignificantcontributiontomyownintellectualdevel-
opment. It has been a privilege to teach them. I would like to recognize the
following students now, with thanks: Anthony Bango, Michael Barlett, Ke-
vin Belknap, Mallory Blasic, Jacob Bowen, Ian Brigham, Christopher
Brown, Adam Cline, Christopher Cox, Adam Curtis, Jackson Donahue,
Megan Dunn, Brian Forfa, Jason Golebieski, Zach Goncz, Benjamin Haire,
Katie Kelecseney, Jason Kinsel, Evan Koser, Greg Lane, Justin Lewis, Mi-
chael Long, Brian McCann, Austin Muckinhaupt, Olga Nacalaban, Jerry
Pohl, Benjamin Rodgers, Zoe Rose, Craig Sanders, Victor Sciarinno, Chris-
topherSinclair,JohnSnyder,JoshuaSnyder,JoshuaTesta,TamekaTilliman,
JesseTorba,ChadWork,andGrantYochim.
Dr. Richard Mester, professor emeritus in philosophy here at Behrend,
hasofferedmesupportandencouragement.Dr.PatrickMoloneyofVictoria
University in New Zealand has been an indefatigable sounding board, truly
indispensabletomyprogress.Thisprojectcouldnothavesucceededwithout
the great assistance I received from Dr. Stephen Eric Bronner, professor at
RutgersUniversity,andDr.MichaelThompsonofWilliamPatersonUniver-
sity.ThegratitudeIfeeltowardtheseindividualswouldbehardtooverstate.
ix