Parmenides by Plato (428)
The dialogue explores the nature of reality and knowledge through a conversation between Parmenides and a young philosopher named Socrates. Parmenides argues that the concept of change is an illusion, and that true reality consists of unchanging, eternal Forms or Ideas. He claims that these Forms are the only truly real entities, while the physical world we experience is mere appearance. Socrates challenges this view by asking questions about the nature of the Forms themselves. If they exist independently of the physical world, how can we know anything about them? And if they do not exist independently, then how can they be considered truly real? The dialogue raises important questions about the relationship between reality and knowledge, and whether it is possible to have certain knowledge about the world around us.
By Plato · First published 428 · Genre: Philosophy, Dialogue, Metaphysics · 22,286 words
First lines
Persons of the dialogue: Cephalus Adeimantus Glaucon Antiphon Pythodorus Socrates Zeno Parmenides Aristoteles
Cephalus rehearses a dialogue which is supposed to have been narrated in his presence by Antiphon, the half-brother of Adeimantus and Glaucon, to certain Clazomenians.
What this Textopian page supports
Parmenides is listed on Textopian as an essay by Plato, dated 428 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Plato
- Date: 428 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophy, Dialogue, Metaphysics, Ontology, Ancient Literature
- Length: 22,286 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1,209 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Parmenides by Plato
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Parmenides?
- How does this essay by Plato fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Meno by Plato
- The Philosophy Of Relative Existences by Frank R. Stockton
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Genres
- Philosophy — The text primarily explores metaphysical concepts and the nature of being.
- Dialogue — The work is structured as a dialogue, typical of philosophical discourse.
- Metaphysics — It delves into fundamental questions about existence and reality.
- Ontology — The text specifically addresses the nature of being and existence.
Tags
Philosophy · Metaphysics · Ontology · Epistemology · Reality · Knowledge · Truth · Being · Non-being · Change · Time · Space