Parmenides
In this dialogue Plato imagines a meeting in Athens between the young Socrates and the aged philosopher Parmenides, accompanied by his follower Zeno. Socrates proposes his theory of forms, and Parmenides raises a series of searching objections to it, among them the problem later known as the third man argument. He then offers to show the kind of training a philosopher needs and works through a long and dizzying series of arguments about whether the one exists and what follows if it does or does not. One of Plato's most difficult works, it has been read as self-criticism, as a logical exercise and as metaphysics. The translation is by Benjamin Jowett. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the opening pages are free.
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Frequently asked questions about Parmenides
Parmenides by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Parmenides online?
Yes. Parmenides opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Parmenides free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Parmenides is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Parmenides in the public domain?
Yes. Parmenides by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Parmenides?
About 2 h 24 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Parmenides?
Parmenides by Plato is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
