- Parmenides-I.mp3
- Parmenides-I.mp4
- Parmenides-Unplugged-Underground-XIII.mp3
- Parmenides-Unplugged-Underground-XIII.mp4
- Parmenides-prelude.mp3
[Intro]
Where Parmenides resides….
[Verse 1]
Nothing ever changes
Where Parmenides resides
Only slightly rearranges
Where Parmenides resides
[Chorus]
Before Plato came to know
(Heraclitus get a load of this)
Before Aristotle took the throttle
(Heraclitus like the rest of us)
[Bridge]
Reality (is unchanging)
Reality (so estranging)
[Verse 2]
Sensory perception
(Just a reflection)
Opinion dis
(Being is)
[Chorus]
Before Plato came to know
(Heraclitus get a load of this)
Before Aristotle took the throttle
(Heraclitus like the rest of us)
[Bridge]
Reality (is unchanging)
Reality (so estranging)
[Chorus]
Before Plato came to know
(Heraclitus get a load of this)
Before Aristotle took the throttle
(Heraclitus like the rest of us)
[Outro]
Reality (is unchanging)
Reality (so estranging)
ABOUT THE SONG
The philosopher who argued against the notion of “all the world is a flux” was Parmenides, an ancient Greek thinker and a contemporary of Heraclitus, who famously advocated for the idea of constant change (panta rhei or “everything flows”).
Parmenides’ Philosophy:
- Reality is Unchanging:
Parmenides posited that change and motion are illusions. In his poem On Nature, he argued that the true nature of reality is eternal, unchanging, and indivisible. According to him, what truly exists (Being) is constant and cannot become something else, as that would imply non-being, which he deemed impossible. - Rejection of Sensory Perception:
Parmenides distrusted the senses, which suggest that the world is full of change, diversity, and movement. Instead, he relied on reason and logical deduction to assert that reality is singular and unchanging. - The Way of Truth vs. The Way of Opinion:
In his work, Parmenides distinguished between:- The “Way of Truth,” which recognizes that Being is, and it is unchanging.
- The “Way of Opinion,” which is based on sensory experience and leads to the mistaken belief in change and plurality.
Contrast with Heraclitus:
- Heraclitus believed in the impermanence and constant flux of the universe, famously stating, “You cannot step into the same river twice.”
- Parmenides directly opposed this view, asserting that such flux is an illusion and that logical reasoning reveals a static, eternal reality.
Legacy:
Parmenides’ arguments laid the groundwork for metaphysical discussions about the nature of reality, being, and change. His ideas influenced later philosophers, including Plato and Aristotle, and sparked debates about the reconciliation of change and permanence, which remain central to philosophy today.