Single Idea 20900

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / e. The One]

Full Idea

Defenders of the One say that there could not be motion without a void, and that void is what does not exist, and that nothing that is not belongs to being.

Gist of Idea

Defenders of the One say motion needs the void - but that is not part of Being

Source

report of Parmenides (fragments/reports [c.474 BCE]) by Aristotle - Coming-to-be and Passing-away (Gen/Corr) 325a26

Book Reference

Democritus: 'Early Greek Phil VII: Democritus', ed/tr. Laks,A/Most,G [Harvard Loeb 2016], p.91


A Reaction

This is why motion is an illusion, a view also supported by the paradoxes of Zeno of Elea. Aristotle goes on to give Democritus's response to this idea. Parmenides was contemplating 'void', before Democritus got to it.

Related Idea

Idea 20901 True Being only occurs when it is completely full, with atoms and no void [Democritus, by Aristotle]