The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their worksFairbanks, Arthur
Philosophy
The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works
Fairbanks, Arthur
Philosophy, Ancient
_Ibid._ 30 v 140, 27. And why is it necessary to say that there is a
multiplicity of things when it is set forth in Zeno’s own book? For again
in showing that, if there is a multiplicity of things, the same things
are both finite and infinite, Zeno writes as follows, to use his own
words: (Fr. 2) ‘If there is a multiplicity of things, it is necessary
that these should be just as many as exist, and not more nor fewer. If
there are just as many as there are, then the number would be finite. If
there is a multiplicity at all, the number is infinite, for there are
always others between any two, and yet others between each pair of these.
So the number of things is infinite.’ So by the process of division he
shows that their number is infinite. And as to magnitude, he begins with
this same argument. For first showing that (Fr. 3) ‘if being did not have
magnitude, it would not exist at all,’ he goes on, ‘if anything exists,
it is necessary that each thing should have some magnitude and thickness,
and that one part of it should be separated from another. The same
argument applies to the thing that precedes this. That also will have
magnitude and will have something before it. The same may be said of each
thing once for all, for there will be no such thing as last, nor will one
thing differ from another. So if there is a multiplicity of things, it is
necessary that these should be great and small—small enough not to have
any magnitude, and great enough to be infinite.’[67]
_Ibid._ 130 v 562, 3. Zeno’s argument seems to deny that place exists,
putting the question as follows: (Fr. 4) ‘If there is such a thing as
place, it will be in something, for all being is in something, and that
which is in something is in some place. Then this place will be in a
place, and so on indefinitely. Accordingly there is no such thing as
place.’
_Ibid._ 131 r 563, 17. Eudemos’ account of Zeno’s opinion runs as
follows:—‘Zeno’s problem seems to come to the same thing. For it is
natural that all being should be somewhere, and if there is a place for
things, where would this place be? In some other place, and that in
another, and so on indefinitely.’
_Ibid._ 236 v. Zeno’s argument that when anything is in a space equal to
itself, it is either in motion or at rest, and that nothing is moved in
the present moment, and that the moving body is always in a space equal
to itself at each present moment, may, I think, be put in a syllogism as
follows: The arrow which is moving forward is at every present moment in
a space equal to itself, accordingly it is <in a space equal to itself>
in all time; but that which is in a space equal to itself in the present
moment is not in motion. Accordingly it is in a state of rest, since it
is not moved in the present moment, and that which is not moving is at
rest, since everything is either in motion or at rest. So the arrow which
is moving forward is at rest while it is moving forward, in every moment
of its motion.
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