Parmenides

Book Review

Plato's dialogue «Parmenides» is one of the most complex and enigmatic works of ancient Greek philosophy. At the heart of the dialogue is the meeting of the young Socrates with the elderly Parmenides and his student Zeno. Critics note that Plato uses this dialogue to explore the limits and possibilities of philosophical thought. In the first part of the dialogue, Parmenides critiques Socrates' theory of forms, pointing out its logical contradictions. In the second part, Parmenides demonstrates a series of dialectical exercises that challenge the fundamental principles of being and non-being. Critics emphasize that «Parmenides» is an important text for understanding the development of Platonic philosophy and his dialectical method. Some scholars believe that through this dialogue, Plato expresses his doubts and re-evaluation of early philosophical concepts. At the same time, the complexity and abstractness of the dialogue make it difficult to interpret, leading to a wide range of interpretations among philosophers and historians.