Podwójna negacja w B2 Poematu Parmenidesa
Double Negation in B2 Parmenides' Poem

Summary/Abstract: In our article we focus on an analysis of the structure of double negation in the poem of Parmenides, paying attention to the fragment B2. The starting point for the analysis is the classification of varieties of negation contained in Diogenes Laertius (VII 69-70): negation, denial, provation and double negation. We provide an example of double negation as given by Diogenes: "Not (is not a day) <-> it is a day". In terms of the poetic expression the law of double negation serves to strenghten the goddess' speech. However, in the context of Parmenides' ontology, the law of double negation serves as an affirmation of 'is'. Our goal is to give proofs by comparison. We show that all four forms of negation indicated by Diogenes occur in the Elements and there is a richer set of the linguistic forms used as an expression of negation, including that of double negation. Finally, we show that Parmenides applies consciously the law of double negation, and the poem is the first philosophical text confirming the use of this law. In short, double negation can be summarized as follows: for the Stoics, in Diogenes Laertius (VII 69-70): "not (is not a day) <-> is a day"; for Euclid: "not (is not-equal) <-> is equal" (Elements 16). "is not like that (...is not arround...) <-> is around" (Elements VI 26); and in Parmenides: "is <-> (is not to be)" (B2, v. 3).

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