Single Idea 5081

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

Full Idea

Why does it follow from there being only one thing that it is unmoving, since, for example, water moves internally while remaining one?

Gist of Idea

There could be movement within one thing, as there is within water

Source

comment on Parmenides (fragments/reports [c.474 BCE]) by Aristotle - Physics 186a16

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Physics', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 1996], p.13


A Reaction

One suspects that Parmenides wasn't used to critical questions like this, and would have sharpened up his theory if it had been subjected to criticism. How big was the One? Maybe Aristotle is the real father of philosophy.