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Melissos... the Profound 5th Century BC Philosopher
The ultimate principal as jointly defined by Melissos and Plotinus
(1st edition - March 2008) by A.O. Kime
 for information on
'renting' this article, see Rent-a-Article
While little is known of Melissos or his writings, his surviving works often
referred to as 'fragments', the focus is on one theory in particular... that
voids are impossible. The following tries to explain how his theory, along with
a contention of Plotinus, might lead to the first
(ultimate) principal.
(from the 2001 book STD LEX © by A.O. Kime)
If attempting to understand the fundamental nature of metaphysics is an
important goal, and indeed it should be, it must be shown that something is
wrong with the established methodology in how we attack the questions, why the
true path was missed as Kant suggested was a possibility. However, with great
anticipation, that could be the case as envisioned long ago by two relatively
obscure philosophers. They arrived at related conclusions but each used a
different logic that highly compliments one another.
Melissos (5th century BC) effectively reasoned an absolute void was impossible,
something had to exist everywhere. Plotinus (205-270 AD) reasoned best the
existence of an ultimate principal which Melissos alluded to. If one were to
consider them together, it would lead to the conclusion of an ULTIMATE PRINCIPAL
EVERYWHERE. In my estimation therefore, the life force. This profound concept
perhaps has few believers but should be reconsidered. I think it was a beginning
but a path ignored. Accepting the existence of a life-force will have a profound
effect on theories about space and ultimate reality. But then again, the
existence of a life-force must be proven. I'll get to that later...
Throughout the course of time, various hypotheses, postulates and theories,
perhaps all those necessary to set a new course had been put forth, perhaps
hundreds, each of which could have been embraced as part of the whole. But
again, you must know the nature of man too; new concepts would have been
summarily dismissed due to political, religious and social connotations,
professional jealousy included.
There certainly must have been other similarly expressed conjectures like these
(the full texts below), by other philosophers, either lost forever or not
heretofore considered but these two did survive yet still don't constitute any
integral part of scientific thinking. It certainly wouldn't be part of church
dogma.
This 'ultimate principal everywhere' (life-force) should be a viable hypothesis
for consideration. It COULD be advanced to a postulate (claimed to be true,
existent or necessary).
Nothing much is known about Melissos, the General of Samos who defeated the
Athenian fleet in 440 BC but this is what he put forth... (full text))
"--- nor is anything empty. For what is empty is nothing. What is nothing,
then, cannot be.
Nor does it move; for it has nowhere to betake itself to, but is full. For if
there were empty space, it would betake itself to empty space. But, since there
is no empty space, it has no place to betake itself to.
And it cannot be dense and rare; for it is not possible for what is rarefied to
be full as what is dense, but what is rare is ipso facto emptier than what is
dense.
This is the way in which we must distinguish between what is full and what is
not full. If a thing has room for anything else, and takes it in, it is not
full; But if it has no room for anything and does not take it in, it is full.
Now, it must needs be full if there is no empty space, and if it is full, it
does not move.
If what is real is divided, it moves; but if it moves, it cannot have body; for,
if it had body it would have parts, and would no longer be one."
It's important his observations be fully understood (not particularly easy)
and considered with that of Plotinus below. Whether Plotinus possessed knowledge
of the religion and philosophy of India, that of Hindu origin, his ideas were
thought to be similar as he was credited to have begotten Neoplatonism,
nonetheless he offered this (in part)...
"There must be something prior to all, simple, and different from the
things which are posterior to it, self-existent, unmingled with the things which
come from it, and yet able in another way to be present with the others, being
really one, not something else first then secondarily one, of which it is false
even that it is one; but of the One no description nor scientific knowledge is
possible. Indeed it must be said to be beyond 'being'; for if it were not
simple, without any composition and synthesis, and really one, it would not be a
first principal. And it is wholly self-sufficient by virtue of its being simple
and prior to all things. What is not first needs that which is prior to all
things. What is not simple demands those simple elements which are within it,
that it may be composed of them. Such a One must be unique, for if there were
another such both together would constitute a larger unit. For we hold that they
are not two bodies nor is the Primary One a body. For no body is simple, and a
body is subject to generation; it is not an ultimate principal. The ultimate
principle is unoriginated, and being incorporeal and really one it is able to
stand first." --
It should be reasonable to conclude that 'the One' (ultimate principal) must
also be the 'life-force', and according to Melissos, it would be everywhere. I
could go on about this but it wouldn't take us any farther, not this kind of
logic. All this may prove, by man's standards, is that there SHOULD BE an
ultimate principle and it SHOULD BE the life-force. From then on, he would be
lost.
An important point about this, institutionalized dogma was much to blame for any
such notion like this to have been forsaken, and now, to accept this radical
position as THE basis is to admit fault, 25 centuries based on faulty doctrines.
No way, Jose! ... William Pepperell Montague (1873-1953) expressed his viewpoint
about religious dogma and the church's resistance to finding the truth within
the science of metaphysics. He demonstrated their tenacity against new ideas and
the extent of their wrath.
It can easily be demonstrated that religious institutions have, for centuries,
impeded the progress of mankind more than any other factor. Any such revelation
of a 'life-force' today, as during the Spanish Inquisition, their reaction would
be the same. Fortunately now, the Catholic Church lacks their past Inquisition
power to burn someone alive at the stake for heresy. A most dreadful legacy.
It seems curious, a revelation of a life-force would increase religious
tendencies, not diminish them. Nonetheless it has been condemned by the churches
for centuries that are quick to judge it deism, and those who believe, deists,
fearing a resurgence of mystics but their real fear is a shrinking congregation.
Where is the threat from recognizing a life-force? It doesn't mean there isn't a
God, it should prove there is, and it would have no effect on the story of
Jesus. The life-force is only God's tool-of-trade, certainly not His competitor.
The sciences have been a phenomenal Godsend giving us all the wonderful things
we have, they also had a liberating effect on society. While not all what
science accomplished has been welcomed, most of it has, giving us an abundance
of everything to improve our standard of living. I've had no problem with what
science has done.
However since science has continually rejected the notion of a life-force and
has never really acknowledged it before, they soon will. There will also come a
day when we realize our sciences are really only 'earthly sciences', that they
don't apply to the higher order of things, not when it comes to metaphysical
phenomenon. Well that's okay; we can't fault science for material successes, why
they'd like to stay on the same train.
Early symbolic logic and Aristotle's syllogistic scheme got us started but
Graham Wallas (1858-1932) in his 'Test of Thought' said... "Aristotle's formal
syllogistic scheme seems to us now so poor and clumsy that any insistence upon
it is a hindrance rather a furtherance to thought."
I can continue with this common type of thinking and although not encompassing,
it will help squeeze out a little more from what earthly logic is capable of.
But from the minds of Melissos and Plotinus, one should ascertain that the
necessary axiom has not yet been conceived for quantum physics in respect to an
ultimate principle and the absence of voids. It shouldn't be too hard to realize
our concept of time is wrong also. The absence of voids (within which the
ultimate principle is present) would explain why equations fail, because
emptiness does effectively weigh... (for reasons alluded to later).
I repeatedly admit, quantum physics and further successes with their super
symmetry model, that is, the super-force structure, those protons, neutrons,
electrons, quarks, neutrinos and their interrelating electromagnetic fields, may
yet, first, yield this Holy Grail and be considered another Rosetta stone. I
wonder, will this ultimate principle be the once illusive 'top quark‘; will it
be recognized as the ultimate principle? Although seemingly fundamental, it has
to be shown to be enduring and pervasive yet it has not. Perhaps it is then, but
an endurance race, between quantum physics and the philosopher.
The true nature of metaphysics simply cannot be recognized within our
conventional dimension of thought. The answers will be found, not through
complex mathematical theories but by using a different thought process. If man's
adopted rules of inference were adequate, answers would have been found by now,
that's why metaphysics is not now conceivable to academia.
Answers will be found by perceiving within the correct realm, which begins (in
part), if a beginner would, studying nature in minute detail, ants for example
(unscientific myrmecology) or any creature, try to comprehend and connect to
their alien realities, this is metaphysics 101.
The essence (properties) of metaphysics is ethereal of course and the ultimate
(primary) basis for both matter and spirit. From that somehow the life-force is
capable of manifesting itself into semi-corporeal particles with virtually no
mass, although its influence can affect mass, like electricity, which can mimic
it. Einstein was preoccupied with the idea 'if it is beautiful, it must be
true', I agree and while the existence of a life-force can be scientifically
determined, the ultimate reasoning will also. They’ll find true reality is
sweet, a good enough reason.
To most folks comprehending the true meaning of eternity is a difficult task,
people can easily envision time not ending but envisioning time having no
beginning is a killer. Why? That’s because we associate with boundaries,
beginnings. That also pertains to the universe, in the plural and endless in
every direction.
I find it curious, and noteworthy, that the dictionary is reluctant to make any
inference whatsoever to the word 'beginning' in its definition of either
eternity, eternal or always. It mentions 'end' or 'endless' but won't touch
'beginning'. Under pressure perhaps, lexicographers knew it would have
connotations to every religion and indeed it would. The significance of 'no
beginning' is a key principle of metaphysics and therefore our present concept
of time cannot be applicable to the cosmos, except in relative terms. Our
concept of time is merely a manmade means of measurement. Our concept of time
has no features and cannot even be considered a possible candidate for that
dubious '4th dimension'. This dimensional scheme is flawed for purposes beyond
its current use, if you want a 4th dimension, a hypercube, under the same scheme
it would be motion, although Zeno the Stoic suggested 'time was the extension of
motion'.
The eleven (11) dimensions set forth in 1919 by Theodor Kaluza were originally
thought by many to be internally consistent but produced nothing so his concept
was discarded. Men keep trying but along the wrong lines.
(end)
Notes:
While the above statement "It should be reasonable to conclude that
'the One' (ultimate principal) must also be the 'life-force' —" may seem
in conflict with Plotinus' 'the One' being God Almighty, there is no effective
difference.
While the above 'fragment' of Melissos' known works have been transcribed
in different ways, often with substituted terms, this one seems best as it enables
one to capture what Melissos was trying to convey. It takes deep reflection
however... extremely deep. Upon due diligence a whole new awareness opens up.
© by A.O. Kime
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