"Melissus seems to infer that what really exists must be permanent and immutable, because it is too tough to pass away, and all change involves the destruction of a previous state of being. The argument depends upon investigating what we mean by saying something is real or exists. Permanence, Melissus suggests, is part of the concept of truth or existence. Is that so? How would we check up?"
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Catherine Osborne, "Reality and appearance: more adventures in metaphysics", ch. 4 of Presocratic Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (2004).
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Melissus_of_Samos
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Melissus of Samos
Melissus of Samos (Greek: Μέλισσος; fl. fifth century BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher, the third and last member of the ancient school of Eleatic philosophy, whose other members included Zeno and Parmenides.
9 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Melissus of Samos →
Related Quotes
"Καὶ Μέλισσος δὲ τὸ ἀγένητον τοῦ ὄντος ἔδειξε τῶι κοινῶι τούτωι χρησάμενος ἀξιώματι· γράφει δὲ οὕτως·᾿ἀεὶ ἦν ὅ τι ἦν κ…"
"Οὕτως οὖν ἀίδιόν ἐστι καὶ ἄπειρον καὶ ἓν καὶ ὅμοιον πᾶν."
"Οὐδ᾿ ἂν τὸ ὑγιὲς ἀλγῆσαι δύναιτο· ἀπὸ γὰρ ἂν ὄλοιτο τὸ ὑγιὲς καὶ τὸ ἐόν, τὸ δὲ οὐκ ἐὸν γένοιτο. Καὶ περὶ τοῦ ἀνιᾶσθαι…"
"Τοῦ γὰρ ἐόντος ἀληθινοῦ κρεῖσσον οὐδέν."
"This is indeed the first question we have to ask: is generation a fact or not? Earlier speculation was at variance bo…"
"[W]hen in company where people engaged themselves in what are commonly thought the liberal and elegant amusements, he…"
"Together with his victory and pursuit, having made himself master of the port, he laid siege to the Samians, and bloc…"
"Melissus, the son of Ithaegenes, was a native of Samos. He was a pupil of Parmenides. Moreover he came into relations…"
"You deceive your countrymen with words, in dissuading them from war, since under the name of peace you are bringing u…"
"As to supposing that I am emulous of , you are mistaken; for he, with the support of all Greece, hardly took one city…"