A FEATURE OF THE CONCEPTION INHERITANCE IN THE ELEATIC SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to identify common theses supposedly shared by Parmenides and Zeno of Elea. In order to achieve this goal, we show that an alternative interpretation of the aporia from 29 B 1 DK is possible, in which we don’t deal with an infinite division of an extended being, but we deal with a regression of relations of an arbitrary type. These relations are connecting an arbitrary type of constituents of a complex object. In this case, the aporia proves the impossibility of a complex object of any type, not just the impossibility of an extended object. Finally, we show that interpreted in this way Zeno’s reasoning from 29 B 1 DK, and appropriately interpreted Parmenides’ proofs of the unity of being in 28 B 8 DK can be treated as based on a holistic assumption. This enables us to assert that Zeno was the successor of Parmenides, not only in the sense that he was indirectly proving Parmenides’ thesis of the unity of being, but also in the sense that he was using a statement that Parmenides could imply.