Understanding Parmenides as a Numerical Monist: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Among other scholars, G.E.L. Owen and Leonardo Tarán established the traditional view of Parmenides, the 5th century BC Greek philosopher, as a numerical monist. A numerical monist is a philosopher that advocates one true reality without distinction. More recently, there have been alternative interpretations. Standing alone, Jonathan Barnes suggests that Parmenides was not a monist. On the other hand, Patricia Curd and Alexander P.D. Mourelatos claim that Parmenides expressed limited monism. With the emergence of these arguments, I was compelled to present my own perspective. I argue in support of the conventional position, however, unlike Owens and Tarán, I offer evidence based on a literary comparison between Parmenides and Shankara, the 8th century AD Indian philosopher.