Roots of Platonic Dialectic: Parmenides

Parmenides' contribution to the development of dialectic in the Platonic tradition.

"And the Goddess received me kindly, and took my right hand with her hand,
And uttered speech and thus addressed me:
Youth attended by immortal charioteers,
Who come to our House with mares that carry you,
Welcome: for it is no ill fortune that sent you forth to travel
This route (for it lies far indeed from the beaten track of men),
But right and justice. And it is right that you should learn all things,
Both the steadfast heart of persuasive truth,
And the beliefs of mortals, in which there is no true trust."

Thus does the seeker of Parmenides' profound poem, On Nature, find welcome and begin his initiation into the ways of truth-finding. The mixture of positive and negative statements found in the poem are, perhaps, the clearest roots of the kind of dialectic that Plato demonstrates in so many of his dialogues - and indeed the most determined exposition of this technique is to be found in the dialogue named after his predecessor. In this session we'll read from some of the passages of Parmenides' poem and from Plato's dialogue, the Parmenides, and take an introductory look at this powerful instrument of discovery.
No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.

Entrance in free, but donations between £3-5 will be welcomed.

A PDF download of the extract we will be reading is available on our website together with further details of this and other Prometheus Trust's activities: www.prometheustrust.co.uk (the PDF is on the "London Monday Evenings" page.)
No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.

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