Who's Who Ancient Greece: The Philosophers

Parmenides of Elea

The main founder of the Eleatic School of Philosophy (based in Elea, in southern Italy). He abandoned politics for scientific research, he was a follower of the teachings of Xenophanes and in turn teacher of Zeno.

While Heraklitos saw all in motion, Parmendhes saw everything in a state of immobility and stability. His only work was entitled 'On Nature', an epic poem in hexameter verse, consisting of some 800=1000 verses, and much praised in his time, and some of which has survived.

His concept of a stable being behind deceptive appearances evolved into Plato's concept of the Idea, though Aristotle strongly opposed Parmenidhes theories and those of the Eleatic School.