Analysis Of The Poem Parmenides - 2076 Words

Parmenides poem starts out with an introduction also known as the proem. The proem is meant to get us into the right state of mind to understand the poem. Unlike dynamic theory irony no one knows what is going on in the beginning; not the reader nor the character, thus, as the character takes the journey so do we as readers. In Marciano’s essay she sees the proem as a distortion to evoke a dream like state of mind. This new state of mind is a technique to alienate habitual tendency ways of thinking, the in other words the way humans think. In this new state of mind we will be able to understand what is to come in the rest of the poem. Marciano discusses how the message of the poem is that everything is one. As human beings, we do not view the world in this way. Instead, we see everything as separate, or as opposites, as demonstrated in the Doxa portion of the poem. In order for someone to even grasp the idea of a reality of unity, Marciano says that the proem is meant to disorient the listener, and to put him or her into a state where unity is comprehensible. The one place that humans can pretty much experience everything is in a dream. Marciano explains this technique called â€Å"alienation†. This technique is supposed to give your mind almost like a clean slate, transporting you into an unfamiliar dimension, like a dream. In order to achieve this technique, Parmenides purposely leaves out certain words, and gets rid of things that we are familiar with, such as time and space.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Parmenides Poem On Nature 992 Words   |  4 PagesIn Parmenides’ poem â€Å"On Nature†, he argues that all things must meet three criteria to be classified as possessing ‘isness’, or having qualities that constitute existence. In order for anything to exist, the object must have no genesis or perishing, no change, and no qualitative distinction. In this paper, I will argue that Anaxagoras provides the best objection to Parmenides’ argument compared to both Empedocles and Democritus because he addresses more of the criteria put forth by Parmenides. Read MoreAristotle s Views On Metaphysics And Cosmology1481 Words   |  6 PagesParmenides, although generally ascribed the position of a monist, offers arguments through his poem that are not so clearly of monist persuasion and at times, creates a whole host of possible meanings. His views on metaphysics and cosmology seem to differ from his predecessor Heraclitus’ doctrine of flux, believing instead that all is continuously one and unchanging, maintaining that beings are what exist and non-beings cannot exist through the acknowledgement that what is existent cannot be createdRead MoreParmenides of Elea Essays974 Words   |  4 PagesParmenides of Elea Parmenides of Elea discusses the meta-theoretical issue of what can be legitimately thought and said. In his writings, Parmenides asserts that anything rationally conceivable must exist. In turn, anything non-existent can neither be thought of nor said. Furthermore, Parmenides rejects beliefs that are based on sensory experience. He believes that the senses deter us from recognizing genuine being, which can only be recognized through the use of reason. Although his argumentRead MoreParmenides and Heraclitus5510 Words   |  23 PagesThis paper looks at two Greek philosophers, Heraclitus, and Parmenides. It examines their different theories as to how the universe was created, understanding of the universe, way of truth, way of opinion and the third way. The author explains that Parmenides, who came after Heraclitus, addressed part of his writings as a refutation of Heraclitus? views. He objected both to Heraclitus? view of the universe and how Heraclitus felt people could ga in knowledge of it. From the Paper: WhileRead MorePhilosophy And Science Of The Same Breath2132 Words   |  9 Pagesquite an expert in the arts.† This praise is echoed in nearly every account of Democritus’ abilities, and he was well respected even among those who disagreed with his ideas. Democritus is reported by Diogenes Laertius to have written some 70+ books, poems, treatises and such, none of which survive except in references to their arguments. The most frequent commenter on the writings and ideas of Democritus is Aristotle, who seemed to consider him a prominent philosopher and somewhat of a rival in theRead MoreBroken Family3761 Words   |  16 Pagesliterature, epistemology, justice, virtue, politics, education, family, militarism Notable ideas: Theory of Forms, Platonic idealism, Platonic realism, hyperuranion, metaxy, khà ´ra Influenced by: Socrates, Homer, Hesiod, Aristophanes, Aesop, Protagoras, Parmenides, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Orphism Influenced: Most of subsequent western philosophy, including Aristotle, Augustine, Neoplatonism, Cicero, Plutarch, Stoicism, Anselm, Machiavelli, Descartes, Hobbes, Leibniz, Mill, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche