Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP) All for One, and One for All: Parmenides of Elea
Jan 17, 2018
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Being As The Central Philosophical Problem
- Parmenides frames philosophy as inquiry into Being itself, asking what it means to exist beyond specific things.
- This elevates existence from a property of objects to a singular metaphysical problem to be solved.
Philosophy Told In Epic Form
- Parmenides wrote his philosophy as an epic poem in Homeric diction rather than dry prose.
- The poetic form signals that his metaphysics draws on traditional authority and mythic modes of revelation.
The Chariot Journey And The Goddess
- Parmenides describes a chariot journey through gates between night and day, escorted by goddesses.
- A nameless goddess greets him and promises to teach both the unmoved truth and mortal opinions.