Ideas from 'Parmenides' by Plato [364 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Complete Works' by Plato (ed/tr Cooper,John M.) [Hackett 1997,0-87220-349-2]].

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2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 1. On Reason
When questions are doubtful we should concentrate not on objects but on ideas of the intellect
2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 5. Opposites
Opposites are as unlike as possible
2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic
Plato's 'Parmenides' is the greatest artistic achievement of the ancient dialectic [Hegel]
5. Theory of Logic / L. Paradox / 3. Antinomies
Plato found antinomies in ideas, Kant in space and time, and Bradley in relations [Ryle]
Plato's 'Parmenides' is perhaps the best collection of antinomies ever made [Russell]
6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 1. Mathematical Platonism / a. For mathematical platonism
One is, so numbers exist, so endless numbers exist, and each one must partake of being
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / c. Becoming
The one was and is and will be and was becoming and is becoming and will become
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / f. Primary being
Plato's Parmenides has a three-part theory, of Primal One, a One-Many, and a One-and-Many [Plotinus]
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 3. Reality
Absolute ideas, such as the Good and the Beautiful, cannot be known by us
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 2. Need for Universals
If you deny that each thing always stays the same, you destroy the possibility of discussion
You must always mean the same thing when you utter the same name
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / a. Platonic Forms
If absolute ideas existed in us, they would cease to be absolute
The concept of a master includes the concept of a slave
It would be absurd to think there were abstract Forms for vile things like hair, mud and dirt
If admirable things have Forms, maybe everything else does as well
Plato moves from Forms to a theory of genera and principles in his later work [Frede,M]
Greatness and smallness must exist, to be opposed to one another, and come into being in things
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / b. Partaking
Participation is not by means of similarity, so we are looking for some other method of participation
If things partake of ideas, this implies either that everything thinks, or that everything actually is thought
The whole idea of each Form must be found in each thing which participates in it
If things are made alike by participating in something, that thing will be the absolute idea
Each idea is in all its participants at once, just as daytime is a unity but in many separate places at once
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / c. Self-predication
If absolute greatness and great things are seen as the same, another thing appears which makes them seem great
Nothing can be like an absolute idea, because a third idea intervenes to make them alike (leading to a regress)
9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / b. Unifying aggregates
Parts must belong to a created thing with a distinct form
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 5. Composition of an Object
In Parmenides, if composition is identity, a whole is nothing more than its parts [Harte,V]
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / a. Parts of objects
Anything which has parts must be one thing, and parts are of a one, not of a many
Plato says only a one has parts, and a many does not [Harte,V]
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / c. Wholes from parts
It seems that the One must be composed of parts, which contradicts its being one
9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 6. Identity between Objects
Two things relate either as same or different, or part of a whole, or the whole of the part
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / c. Teaching
Only a great person can understand the essence of things, and an even greater person can teach it
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / d. The unlimited
The unlimited has no shape and is endless
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / e. The One
The only movement possible for the One is in space or in alteration
Some things do not partake of the One
Everything partakes of the One in some way
28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof
We couldn't discuss the non-existence of the One without knowledge of it