Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/143

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88
GREEK PHILOSOPHY.

existence in all respects the opposite of this, and therefore an existence in all respects unreal and untrue.

13. Finally, we may say of Xenophanes that he seems to have approximated more nearly than had yet been done to the realisation of what may be called a double consciousness; a rational consciousness, on the one hand, cognisant of the permanent One, as positive existence, as the real and true in itself; and a sensible consciousness, on the other hand, cognisant of the changeable many, as negative existence, as unreal and untrue in itself, and as possessing, in comparison with the genuine and absolute reality of the unchangeable one, only a spurious and relative reality. Keep well in mind the thoroughgoing repugnancy between the one and the many, the intelligible and the sensible, inculcated in this school; remember that whatever predicate is applied to one member of the antithesis, the opposite predicate must be applied to the other member of it, and you will obtain a clue to the doctrines of these philosophers, and will understand, however hard you may find it to agree with, their dogmas in regard to sensible existence, and the phenomena of the material universe.

PARMENIDES.

14. I pass on to Parmenides. This philosopher is the central figure in the Eleatic sect, a man of imposing presence and authoritative aspect. His personal