XENOPHANES

c. 570 - c. 478 B.C.E.

 Life, Works and Significance

• Settled at Elea in Southern Italy

• Reputed precursor of the Eleatic school of philosophy
• His philosophy found expression primarily in the poetry
• Credited with being one of the first philosophers to distinguish between true
belief and knowledge.
“The Gods did not reveal, from the beginning
all things to us, but in the course of time
through seeking we may learn & know things
better. But as for certain truth no man knows
it, nor shall he know it, neither of the Gods
nor yet of all things that I speak. For even if
by chance he were to utter The Final Truth,
he would himself not know it: for all is but a
woven web of guesses”
PARMENIDES
Late 6th cn. - Mid 5th cn. B.C.E.
 Life, Works and Significance

• came from a wealthy family

• a pupil of Xenophanes, and a teacher to both Socrates and Plato
• viewed the Universe as a single unchanging entity
• together with Heraclitus, founded logic and metaphysics
• founder of Eleatic School of Philosophy
“We can speak and think only of what exists.
And what exists is uncreated and
imperishable for it is whole and unchanging
and complete. It was not or nor shall be
different since it is now, all at once, one and
continuous.”