ESSAY ON THE ELEATIC SCHOOLS

I. Xenophanes.

ll. Parmenides.

III. Zeno.

IV. Melissus.

V. Gorgias.

Vl. Reduction of all systems to the system of the Eleatics.

If space exist, it must exist somewhere. Where? In space. And where does this space exist? In another space.

But space cannot exist thus, by itself. Space cannot be the reason of its own existence. This can be said only of Being. Therefore space does not exist.

But is it logical, is it rational to ask where space exists? Does not the word where presuppose a space? Yes and no. It presupposes a space merely because space becomes necessary to us for the conception or perception of anything, of any object. This brings the argument to where it was that space exists by itself.

We do but take space as an object when we ask where it is. But space cannot exist by itself, for what exists by itself is that which bears in its essence, (in its name) the reason of its existence. This can be true but of Being. Therefore space (unless it be identical with Being) does not exist.

«The question where does space exist?» is natural to man, but merely because man has need of the idea of space.

Either space does not exist, or it exists by itself. By itself only Being can exist. Space is inexistent.