Chapter 7 Interpreting Parmenides of Elea in Antiquity: From Plato’s Parmenides to Simplicius’ Commentary on Aristotle’s Physics
In: Received Opinions: Doxography in Antiquity and the Islamic WorldSearch for other papers by Christoph Helmig in
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Abstract
What did ancient doxographical approaches towards the Presocratic Parmenides of Elea look like and which role did the Neoplatonist Simplicius play in this story? The paper proposes to mark off different approaches depending mainly on the authority or esteem of Parmenides in the tradition after him. On the whole, ancient authors are much more selective in interpreting their predecessors. In the case of Parmenides, the main focus of attention is the first part of his poem and, more specifically, the thesis that Being is One. While Plato in his later dialogues tries to develop Eleatic conceptions further, Aristotle seems to be convinced that Parmenides and his successors do not present us with a very coherent philosophy. From Middle Platonism onwards, we observe a tendency to bring Parmenides in agreement with Plato (Platonising reading). Writing at the close of Antiquity, Simplicius is eager to bridge the gap between Plato and Aristotle. His extensive treatment of Parmenides ultimately serves to demonstrate the essential unity (symphônia) of ancient Hellenic wisdom and especially the harmony between Plato and Aristotle.