early 5th century BC
Parmenides
Philosopher of Elea who wrote a poem on truth and appearance and told his readers to judge by reason, not by habit or the senses.
Every line we carry
Each one links to its source, what it means, and the shirt in any of our looks.
- Thinking and being are the same.
Parmenides wrote in verse that what can be thought and what can be are one and the same. Philosophers have argued over it for 2,500 years. Read simply, it says the mind and reality are made for each other.
Fragment B3 Diels-Kranz, our translation from the Greek
- Judge by reason.
The goddess in Parmenides' poem warns him not to let habit drag him along with an aimless eye and a ringing ear, but to judge the hard argument by reason. Feelings and noise are not evidence. Think it through.
Fragment B7.5 Diels-Kranz, our translation from the Greek
- It's all one to me where I start. I'll come back there again.
Parmenides says it makes no difference where he begins, because he will arrive back at that point again. Truth is a circle, and so is a good session or a long voyage. Start anywhere; the way leads home.
Fragment B5 Diels-Kranz, our translation from the Greek