I read with Zeller (p. 558 n. 1, Eng. trans. p. 584, n. 1) τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸ
νοεῖν ἔστιν τε καὶ εἶναι. Apart from the philosophical anachronism of
making Parmenides say that “thought and being are the same,” it is a
grammatical anachronism to make him use the infinitive (with or
without the article) as the subject of a sentence. On the other hand,
he does use the active infinitive after εἶναι in the construction
where we usually use a passive infinitive (Monro, _H. Gr._ § 231 _sub
fin._). Cf. fr. 4, εἰσὶ νοῆσαι, “are for thinking,” _i.e._ “can be
thought.”
Footnote 436:
The construction here is the same as that explained in the last note.
It is surprising that good scholars should acquiesce in the
translation of τὸ λέγειν τε νοεῖν τε as “to say and think this.” Then
ἔστι γὰρ εἶναι means “it can be,” not “being is,” and the last phrase
should be construed οὐκ ἔστι μηδὲν (εἶναι).
Footnote 437:
I construe οἷς νενόμισται τὸ πέλειν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶναι ταὐτὸν καὶ οὐ
ταὐτόν. The subject of the infinitives πέλειν καὶ οὐκ εἶναι is the
_it_, which has to be supplied also with ἔστιν and οὐκ ἔστιν. This way
of taking the words makes it unnecessary to believe that Parmenides
said (τὸ) οὐκ εἶναι instead of (τὸ) μὴ εἶναι for “not-being.” There is
no difference between πέλειν and εἶναι except in rhythmical value.
Footnote 438:
I take πάντων as neuter and understand παλίντροπος κέλευθος as
equivalent to the ὁδὸς ἄνω κάτω of Herakleitos. I do not think it has
anything to do with the παλίντονος (or παλίντροπος) ἁρμονίη. See Chap.
III. p. 150, _n._ 347.
Footnote 439:
I still prefer to read ἔστι γὰρ οὐλομελές with Plutarch (_adv. Col._
1114 c). Proklos (_in Parm._ 1152, 24) also read οὐλομελές.
Simplicius, who has μουνογενές here, calls the One of Parmenides
ὁλομελές elsewhere (_Phys._ p. 137, 15). The reading of [Plut.]
_Strom._ 5, μοῦνον μουνογενές helps to explain the confusion. We have
only to suppose that the letters μ, ν, γ were written above the line
in the Academy copy of Parmenides by some one who had _Tim._ 31 b 3 in
mind.
Footnote 440:
Diels formerly read ἔκ πη ἐόντος, “from that which in any way is”; but
he has now reverted to the reading ἔκ μὴ ἐόντος, supposing that the
other horn of the dilemma has dropped out. In any case, “nothing but
what is not can arise from what is not” gives a perfectly good sense.
Footnote 441:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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