Images and Experience: At the Roots of Parmenides ' Aletheia

Jonathan Barnes, an intelligent reader and also one of the keenest 'hunters ' for logical arguments in the texts of the Presocratics, has openly expressed his dis-pleasure with the fact that Parmenides wrote poetry- and bad poetry, at that. It is hard to excuse Parmenides ' choice of verse as a medium for his philosophy. The exigencies of n1etre and poetical style regularly produce an almost impenetrable obscurity; and the difficulty of understanding his thought is not lightened by any literary joy: the case presents no adjunct to the Muse's diadem. (Barnes 1982,155) There is an interesting similarity between this modern interpreter's reaction to the poetry of Parmenides and Aristotle ' s reaction to an equally enigmatic text: the cosn1010gical poetry of Empedocles. Aristotle, too, expresses his displeasure in no uncertain terms. In his opinion those who have nothing to say but would like to create the impression of having something to say will write poetry and use all sorts of obscurities and circumlocutions (Rhetoric 1407a35 =DK 31 A25). Hi