Ideas from 'Parmenides' by Plato [366 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 / D. Assumptions for Logic / 4. Identity in Logic
Equals added to unequals maintain the difference between them
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 / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / a. Units
Without oneness we can't conceive of many
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / b. Mark of the infinite
If we subtract a part from a multitude, will that part not itself be a multitude?
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 / b. Being and existence
Is existence just being combined with time?
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
What is becoming can't avoid the now, and then it ceases to become, and is itself
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 / 1. Universals
Are many people covered by a whole sail, or each person by a part of it?
Maybe thoughts are just thoughts in minds - but how then do they cover many instances?
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 2. Need for Universals
You must always mean the same thing when you utter the same name
If you deny that each thing always stays the same, you destroy the possibility of discussion
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / a. Platonic Forms
If admirable things have Forms, maybe everything else does as well
Greatness and smallness must exist, to be opposed to one another, and come into being in things
The powers of forms and powers of our world are quite separate
It would be absurd to think there were abstract Forms for vile things like hair, mud and dirt
Plato moves from Forms to a theory of genera and principles in his later work [Frede,M]
If absolute ideas existed in us, they would cease to be absolute
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / b. Partaking
The whole idea of each Form must be found in each thing which participates in it
Each idea is in all its participants at once, just as daytime is a unity but in many separate places at once
A form is wholly present in many different things (just as a day is present in many places)
Probably partaking in the Forms is like being modeled on a pattern
If things partake of ideas, this implies either that everything thinks, or that everything actually is thought
It is most likely that forms are patterns, and a thing partakes by being modelled on the form
If things are made alike by participating in something, that thing will be the absolute idea
Participation is not by means of similarity, so we are looking for some other method of participation
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)
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / d. Forms critiques
If a Form exists completely in may things, then it is separated from itself
Forms are very difficult, if we must posit a new Form every time we make a distinction
The master-slave relationships are between people, not between mastery and slavery
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
Plato says only a one has parts, and a many does not [Harte,V]
Anything which has parts must be one thing, and parts are of a one, not of a many
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
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations
To find the truth about the being of something, you must study all of its consequences
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
Some things do not partake of the One
The only movement possible for the One is in space or in alteration
Everything partakes of the One in some way
The one is completely unmoving, because no types of motion are possible for it
The One is timeless, has no being or identity, and cannot be known
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 3. Parts of Time / b. Instants
The instant has no time, but change moves to rest in an instant
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