Melissus
• The Eleatic Thesis: Only one thing exists
and it is
(i) ungenerated,
(ii) indestructible,
(iii) whole,
(iv) of one kind,
(v) unwavering, and
(vi) complete.
[W]hat does not come into existence
has not got a beginning. But what exists
has not come into being. Therefore it has
not got a beginning. Again, what is
destroyed has an end, and if something
is indestructible it has not got an end.
Therefore what exists, being
indestructible, has not got an end. But
what has neither beginning nor end is in
fact infinite. Therefore what exists infinite.
1. If something does not come into existence,
then it does not have a beginning.
2. What exists does not come into being.
3. [So] What exists does not have a beginning.
4. If something is indestructible, it does not have
an end.
5. What exists is indestructible.
6. [So] What exists does not have an end.
7. If something has neither beginning nor end,
then it is infinite.
8. What exists is infinite.
If something is infinite, it is unique. For if
there were two things they cold not be
infinite but would have limits against one
another. But what exists is infinite.
Therefore there is not a plurality of
existents. Therefore what exists is unique.
1. If there were two things, then they
would have limits against one
another.
2. If things have limits against one
another, then they are not infinite.
3. What exists is infinite.
4. [So] There is not a plurality of existents.
5. What exists is unique.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor
grow nor change its arrangement nor
suffer pain nor suffer anguish… For
anything that undergoes any change of
whatever sort moves from on state into a
different one. But nothing is different
from what exists. Therefore it will not
change.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor
grow nor change its arrangement nor
suffer pain nor suffer anguish… For
anything that undergoes any change of
whatever sort moves from on state into a
different one. But nothing is different
from what exists. Therefore it will not
change.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor
grow nor change its arrangement nor
suffer pain nor suffer anguish… For
anything that undergoes any change of
whatever sort moves from on state into a
different one. But nothing is different
from what exists. Therefore it will not
change.
If it is unique… it can neither perish nor
grow nor change its arrangement nor
suffer pain nor suffer anguish… For
anything that undergoes any change of
whatever sort moves from on state into a
different one. But nothing is different
from what exists. Therefore it will not
change.
Melissus’Argument
against Qualitative Change
1. If something undergoes qualitative
change, then it moves from one state
into a different one.
2. If something moves from one state
into a different one, then it differs from
itself.
3. Nothing differs from itself.
4. Nothing undergoes qualitative
change.
The Leaf Argument
1. If the leaf changes color, then the YL
is the OL.
2. The YL is green and the OL is red.
3. If something is red, then it isn’t green.
4. [So] If the YL is the OL, then it is both
green and not.
5. The leaf doesn’t change color.