Being as pélein in Parmenides’ Poem

Authors

  • Colin C. Smith Ohio State University

Keywords:

Parmenides, being, metaphysics, πέλειν

Abstract

Parmenides enacted a breakthrough in the history of philosophy by isolating and turning thought toward the notion of “being as such” through the verb εἶναι, noun τὸ ἐόν, and their cognates. His uses of these terms have been well scrutinized. This essay is a consideration of the less-discussed language of being through the archaic verb πέλειν in Fragments 6 and 8. While there is no certainty that Parmenides’ uses of πέλειν are decisive, the verb might offer further insight into Parmenidean being insofar as it indicates being in a dynamic, intermixed, and revealed sense. On this reading, πέλειν invokes being as the activity of that which is revealed to be the case in being as it is, emphasizing both intermixedness and completeness.

Author Biography

Colin C. Smith, Ohio State University

Professor na Ohio State University, Ohio, USA.

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Published

2026-05-12

Issue

No. 56 (2026)

Section

Articles

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