change

Is change impossible? Parmenides’ Paradox

by 1 Comment

Parmenides posed a paradox that purported to show change is impossible. How can this be since we see change everywhere?

NOTES

Parmenides' Paradox of Change

  1. Something can't come from nothing
  2. Change is the bringing about of something from nothing
  3. So, change is impossible
    • O1: empirical observation
      • R1: it's an illusion
        • O1: the illusion is really changing, so some change must be real
    • O2: the argument attempt to *change* your mind
    • O3: change as the actualization of a potential
      • Change is the actualization of a potential
      • So, something is not coming from nothing

Further Reading