Parmenides argued for a single unchanging reality from "summary" of To Explain the World by Steven Weinberg
Parmenides was one of the earliest Greek philosophers, and he put forth a bold idea that challenged the prevailing beliefs of his time. He argued that there is only one unchanging reality, and everything that we perceive as change or multiplicity is merely an illusion. This concept was revolutionary because it went against the common understanding that the world is constantly changing and made up of many different elements. Parmenides believed that our senses are not reliable sources of knowledge and that true understanding can only be reached through reason and logic. He posited that the universe is a single, unchanging entity that is eternal and indivisible. This idea of a static, unchanging reality was a radical departure from the prevailing belief in a world of constant flux and diversity. According to Parmenides, change and diversity are merely appearances that deceive us into thinking that the world is made up of many different things. In reality, he argued, there is only one unchanging reality that is beyond our sensory perception. This concept challenged the foundational beliefs of his time and laid the groundwork for later philosophical and scientific thought. Parmenides' idea of a single unchanging reality has had a lasting impact on Western philosophy and science. It forced thinkers to question the nature of reality and the limits of human perception. While his views were controversial and challenged the status quo, they sparked a new way of thinking about the world that continues to shape our understanding of the universe today.
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