The “question of Existence” in the Poem of Parmenides
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4013/fsu.2012.132.06Abstract
This paper studies Parmenides’ use of the Greek verb ‘be’ aiming at understanding the way the concept of ‘being’ was established by the thinkers he influenced. It focuses on the notion of ‘existence’ aiming to evaluate the correction of our use of the verb ‘to exist’ to translate the Greek verb ‘einai’ in Parmenides’ Peri physeôs. Based on cognitive considerations, Parmenides presents his thesis on the impossibility of knowing “what is not” (B2.5-8a) in order to establish “what is” as “what is there to know” (B2.2; B8.15-18), consequently allowing the identity of “thinking” and “being” (B3, B8.34). If, throughout his argument in the Way of Truth, Parmenides reads “existence” as a presupposition of “what is”, but never as a separate predicate, a separated existential reading of the verb ‘be’ in “is/is not”, “what is/what is not” should be rejected.
Key words: Parmenides, ‘being’, ‘existence’, einai.
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