PARMENIDAS: TEISINGUMAS KAIP RAKTAS Į BŪTIES PRIGIMTĮ
PARMENIDES: JUSTICE AS A CLUE TO THE NATURE OF BEING

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with the fundamental problem of philosophy – the problem of being. The research begins with the analysis of the famous poem of Parmenides where, for the first time in the Western tradition of philosophy, the being, apart from being just mentioned, is also provided with a logical foundation. It is demonstrated here that the logically attractive considerations of the second part of the poem both fail to substantiate the discovery of the being and give no hints about its content. The way to deal with the above mentioned problems is found in the typically ignored beginning of the poem. Clues for the explication of the mysterious proem are sought in some Plato’s dialogues. The chariot drawn by steeds in Parmenides’ poem is associated with the representation of the soul as a charioteer driving two steeds in Plato’s Phaedrus, and the ride towards the gates of Night and Day is associated with the concept of the “right way” in Plato’s Symposium respectively. However, attention is focused on Parmenides’ reference that the gate dividing Night and Day is guarded by Justice. An assumption is made that Plato exploits this reference while constructing his ideally just state. Failing to theoretically thematize virtue in Phaedrus, Plato blames writing which incorporates theory for its inability to assimilate the ethical content, but refuses to abandon this undertaking. It is supposed that in The Republic Plato continues his effort of theoretical thematization of virtue by trying to relate the latter to justice which is directly accessible by theory. In striving to enable justice to embrace the content of virtue, Plato is even compelled to make a virtueincorporating philosopher preside over his ideal state. Nonetheless, Plato fails to reach his direct objective in The Republic. However, the action of constructing ideal justice quite unexpectedly reveals the origin of being, i.e. its subordination to the Good.

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