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Note: The Russell quote is from page 347 of the edition given in the References. Paul August ☎ 19:01, Feb 26, 2005 (UTC)
I removed the two paradoxes from Aristotle as they are contained in the more appropriate Zeno's paradoxes. Uriah923 07:39, 25 September 2005 (UTC)
Leaving aside the question of "Why would they not have been?" is not this sufficient indication that indeed they were: "Plato says that Zeno was "tall and fair to look upon" and was "in the days of his youth … reported to have been beloved by Parmenides". (Parmenides 127)" Haiduc 23:35, 14 December 2005 (UTC)
Zeno wasn't a pederast. He was the child in the pederast relationship. Parmenides was the pederast.Mr. 123453334 (talk) 00:10, 30 April 2021 (UTC)
It is said that Pythagoras recommended the building of shrines to the Muses. Could Zeno have played the comic relief to Parmenides? He seems to have been a bit of a trickster who, like Hermes who gave Apollo a bad time of it, wreaked havoc on Parmenides' arguments. In Plato's Parmenides the Athenians give the impression that Parmenides was the better of the two. When asked for a copy of one of his works Zeno claims that it was a juvinile effort and that it was lost. He is supposed to have written a work containing forty paradoxes. His argument that points do not exist is interesting. Compare the present with eternity. --Jbergquist 22:52, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
Er... how exactly is he both Greek and Italian? --Jatopian 22:42, 21 August 2007 (UTC)
- Remember, Elea was a Greek colony in Italy. Presumably he was born there, making him Italian, but of Greek parents in a Greek-claimed city-state, thus making him also Greek. --Gwern (contribs) 02:04 22 August 2007 (GMT)
The quote by Bertrand Russel quote seems out of place in the introduction.
Would anyone have any problem if I just put some of its substance into the intro.
(Lucas(CA) 23:10, 30 November 2007 (UTC))
The article alludes to Aristotle being awear of Zeno and his work, even though the current birth/death dates would make this pretty much impossible.
The article states that he lived between 490 BC – ca. 430 BC, and i do recognise that the exact year is unknown, but (according to the wiki page on him)Aristotle lived from 384 BC to 322 BC, so for them to know each other they would have had time time travel.
Can this please be fixed up, somehow... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.6.43.107 (talk) 06:44, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
- Where does the article say that Aristotle knew Zeno? Zeno died roughly 50 years before Aristotle was born. Nevertheless Aristotle knew of Zeno and his work. Paul August ☎ 06:14, 6 April 2008 (UTC)
Having devised his paradoxes, did Zeno in fact believe that motion was physically impossible and thus was only an illusion? Or were his paradoxes to him simply philosophical in nature, with no actual bearing on reality? — Loadmaster (talk) 16:15, 29 October 2008 (UTC)
- I doubt they were merely philosophical arguments; presumably if they were 'just' arguments, then Zeno's point would've been 'look at the odd results reasoning can produce!', no? But Zeno, Parmenides, and Melissus seem to've genuinely believe their results. Consider that the Parmenides doesn't seem to present Zeno as ironic, nor does Parmenides's On Nature seem to undercut itself; likewise, I've never seen any fragments of Melissus which cast doubt on his adherence.
- Now, if the writings were from a Sophist like Gorgias, maybe then one could suggest that the author did not believe his arguments. :) --Gwern (contribs) 19:35 29 October 2008 (GMT)
Singinglemon has pointed out that the person in the protrait is very probably Zeno of Citium. A visual argument (captions reflect identity claims):
Has anyone more info on this matter? Paradoctor (talk) 14:25, 16 December 2009 (UTC)
- I had a dig around for ancient representations of "Zeno", and all I can find are busts of Zeno of Citium:
- Zeno of Elea was, relative to Zeno of Citium, a fairly obscure fellow in the ancient world - he didn't found a philsophical cult like the Cypriot did, and so no ancient portraits of him survive. As for the more modern engravings, they were often used, I think, to illustrate editions of Diogenes Laertius' Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, and Zeno of Elea has only a short entry in that, compared with Zeno of Citium who heads up book 7. Most engravings of Zeno, I'm afraid, are likely to be of Zeno of Citium. Singinglemon (talk) 20:36, 14 August 2010 (UTC)
The callout rquote from Laërtius does not expand its "box" properly when the reader increases his type size (zooms in), e.g., with ctrl+plus. If the reader has zoomed in even once, the ends of the nobreak lines are truncated in a way that makes the quote unintelligible. Either you have to do ctrl+zero and move closer to the screen and squint, or you can go to edit mode and try to read it, ignoring all the mark up characters, which are many. I do not know how to fix this. Solo Owl 20:28, 2 September 2022 (UTC)
1st Criterion: Well-written
a. Language
- Lead Section, maybe link space, time, and motion? These notions are of great importance in this instance. L'OrfeoSon io 12:00, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Lead Section, Zeno's arguments are divided into... required to cross any distance.
- It would be nicer if repetition of the words and phrases "arguments" and "invoke the idea" was eradicated. I suggest rephrasing the repetitions to aid the flow of narration. L'OrfeoSon io 12:00, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Fixed. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Lead Section, His ideas have influenced philosophy and mathematics, both in ancient and modern times. Many of his ideas.
- Here again, the repetition of "his ideas" is problematic. May I suggest "His ideas have influenced philosophy and mathematics, both in ancient and modern times. Many of the notions he introduced". L'OrfeoSon io 12:00, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Fixed. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- @Thebiguglyalien, I do appreciate your effort, but cannot help but say the new repetition is more problematic than the previous one.
- His philosophy has influenced philosophy....
- Try the suggestion I made above, or something else, but, please, do not leave it as it is. L'OrfeoSon io 08:57, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Replaced with "paradoxes", this way it's clearer what specifically is being discussed. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Excellent. L'OrfeoSon io 14:13, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life, Zeno was born c. 490 BC.
- Since this is the main body we are dealing with, the use c. is not so suitable; usually, in the main body all the details pertaining to a person's biography are given in full form. I think "Zeno was born at around 490 BC." L'OrfeoSon io 12:07, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- I wasn't aware of any standard like this, and I don't see anything about this at MOS:CIRCA where it says that "c." is preferred. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Agreed, but since "the use of the c. template is preferred at first occurrence over just c.", the second c. should be removed. L'OrfeoSon io 10:37, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life, Zeno is portrayed in the dialogue Parmenides by Plato, which takes place when Zeno is about 40 years old.
- Again, to avoid repetition of the philosopher's name, I'd suggest " Zeno is portrayed... which takes place when he is about 40 years old." or "when the Eleatic is", or something of the sort. L'OrfeoSon io 12:07, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Repetition is necessary to distinguish Zeno from Plato, and nicknames like "the Eleatic" are less clear than just saying his name. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Accepted. L'OrfeoSon io 08:58, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life, In Parmenides, Zeno is described as having once been a zealous defender of his instructor Parmenides. This younger Zeno wished to prove that belief in the physical world as it appears is more absurd than belief in the Eleatic idea of a single entity of existence.
- May I suggest using a semicolon to link these two sentences? They are closely related in terms of meaning. ("In Parmenides, Zeno is ... Parmenides; this younger Zeno wished to prove... existence.) L'OrfeoSon io 12:16, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life, This younger Zeno wished to prove that belief in the physical world as it appears is more absurd than belief in the Eleatic idea of a single entity of existence.
- Link "existence" to Existence. L'OrfeoSon io 20:01, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life, Socrates also hints at a previous romantic or sexual relationship between Parmenides and Zeno.
- Here we have a serious issue of context: this sentence is much too potent to be given without a few more details. I would suggest adding at which work —not Socrates', he wrote none— and by whom it was written that Socrates insinuated such a relationship; it would also be nice if some small description of the relationship's nature was given, without aiming at sensationalism. L'OrfeoSon io 12:16, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Clarified that it was Plato's writing. There aren't really any further details beyond this. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Quite better. L'OrfeoSon io 08:59, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life, Zeno died c. 430 BC.
- Same as with the aforementioned issue. L'OrfeoSon io 12:24, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Solved above, OK. L'OrfeoSon io 08:59, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life, Zeno was killed while he was engaged in a plot to overthrow the tyrant Nearchus..
- Link "Nearchus" to Nearchus of Elea. L'OrfeoSon io 12:24, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, While Melissus sought to build on them, Zeno instead confronted other ideas and argued against them..
- The sentence doesn't really make sense in its present form. I suspect what is meant is that "Zeno instead confronted ideas which were contrary to monism, and argued against them." L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Changed to hopefully be clearer. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Much better, thank you. L'OrfeoSon io 09:00, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, These arguments would have...particularly those of the Pythagoreans.
- This sentence should be altered to "Such arguments...Pythagoreans", to ensure continuity of meaning. L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Aristotle described Zeno as the "inventor of dialectic".
- Link "dialectic" to Dialectic. L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Zeno's philosophy makes use of infinitesimals, or quantities that are infinitely small while still being greater than zero.
- The sentence comes in suddenly. To aid the flow of narration, I would suggest adding a coordinating transition word before it ("Moreover,", "Furthermore", something of the like). L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy,Criticism of Zeno's ideas may accuse him with using rhetorical tricks and sophistry rather than cogent arguments.
- Link "rhetorical tricks" to Rhetoric and "sophistry" to Sophist. L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Critics point to...
- Perhaps this is a weasel word that could be rephrased? L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- The source just says
Some say
. It seems to be a general discussion of the type of criticism. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- OK then, L'OrfeoSon io 09:01, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, He may be accused of comparing similarities between concepts, such as attributes that physical space shared with physical objects, and then assuming that they be identical in other ways.
- Repetition of "attributes", I suggest that a synonym is placed in the word's place. L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- I'd rather use attributes again so it's clear that we're still talking about the same criticism. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- OK, minor issue. L'OrfeoSon io 09:02, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Plurality and space, Zeno rejected the idea of plurality, or that more than one thing can exist.
- Link "plurality" to Pluralism (philosophy). L'OrfeoSon io 15:49, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Plurality and space, ...is recorded by Simplicius. According to Simplicius,...
- Avoid repetition of "Siplicius". I suggest "...by Siplicius. According to him,..."
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Plurality and space, In another argument, Zeno proposed that multiple objects... He held that in order... dividing them.
- Second sentence closely related to the first, I would suggest using a semicolon to link them, i.e. "In another argument, Zeno... ovjects; He...". L'OrfeoSon io 20:01, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Plurality and space, He argued from the assumption that for all things that exist, they must exist in a certain point in physical space
- Although I personally understand the meaning of this sentence, I sense it will bewilder most readers... Could the contributor(s) make it a bit more clear? L'OrfeoSon io 20:01, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- I removed the phrase "argued from the assumption", but I don't know if the latter half can be made simpler. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Great move, much clearer now! L'OrfeoSon io 09:03, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Philosophy, Motion and time, argues that a swift runner such as Achilles can never catch up to a slow runner, such as a tortoise
- (Maybe) link "tortoise" to tortoise? L'OrfeoSon io 20:01, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Seems like overlinking. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- You're probably right, ok. L'OrfeoSon io 09:03, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Ancient philosophy, of interest to Ancient Greek mathematicians
- Link "Ancient Greek mathematicians" to "Greek mathematics". L'OrfeoSon io 20:21, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Ancient philosophy, Zeno was succeeded by the Greek Atomists...
- Link "Greek Atomists" as a whole to Atomism#Greek_atomism. L'OrfeoSon io 20:33, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Ancient philosophy, Aristotle disagreed, believing them to be worthy of consideration. Aristotle challenged... Aristotle contented... Aristotle also challenged... to pass. The paradox of Achilles and the tortoise may have influenced Aristotle's...Zeno's arguments.
- Extensive repetition of "Aristotle". Try "Aristotle disagreed...consideration.He challenged... He contended... Aristotle also challenged Zeno's...to pass. The paradox... may have influenced the Stagirite philosopher's belief that... Zeno's arguments". L'OrfeoSon io 20:33, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Changed most of the Aristotles to hes. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Modern era, His philosophy shows a contrast between
- Here, "his" should become "Zeno's", since the previous sentences refer not to the subject itself, but to an object the subject produced (the paradoxes). L'OrfeoSon io 09:49, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Fixed. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Modern era, ...this practice was later adopted by the modern philosophic schools of thought empiricism and post-structuralism
- Add comma between "of thought" and "empiricism and post-structuralism". L'OrfeoSon io 09:49, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Modern era, Zeno's arguments against plurality... Zeno's arguments against motion... and physics
- A coordinating transition word before "Zeno's arguments against motion" would make the text feel less like a list. L'OrfeoSon io 09:51, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Added a "likewise". Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Fine! L'OrfeoSon io 14:14, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Modern era, Mathematics and philosophy continued studying infinitesimals
- "Mathematicians and philosophers continued studying..." is more proper, since, logically speaking, people can "study", while sciences cannot. L'OrfeoSon io 09:49, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Fixed. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Modern era, There is no definitive agreement...
- Since this is the final sentence, indeed contrasting the previous statements, a "However", or a "To this day" or something of the sort should be placed before it. L'OrfeoSon io 09:49, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Added "however". Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Great. L'OrfeoSon io 14:14, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Life (structure and context), The writings of Zeno ... of present day knowledge about Zeno.
- Maybe this last paragraph could constitute a separate section or subsection named "Works and sources", as is the case with Socrates#Sources_and_the_Socratic_problem? I would like to hear the contributor(s) opinion on this suggestion. L'OrfeoSon io 12:24, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Separated it as a subsection titled "Writings". I don't want to use "sources" because that's too similar to "references". Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Fine. L'OrfeoSon io 09:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- Legacy, Ancient philosophy
- The paragraph includes various references to mathematics, mathematical thought and practice, and thus the section's title "Ancient philosophy" is not exactly suitable. It would be more fit to name the section "Antiquity", for it to also match the section named "Modern era", a title that includes no reference to philosophy or mathematics, but rather to a time period. L'OrfeoSon io 20:22, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- Done. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 22:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
- General comment: "Behaviour" is British English, but other than that, I could not find clear signs of British or American English. If a decision is made, the respective signs should be placed above the article's first sentence and at the talk page. L'OrfeoSon io 09:49, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
- I wrote the article in American English, but I had copied that text from a different article. Fixed and added the use American English template. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 14:05, 27 October 2023 (UTC)
Re. "Zeno's philosophy is still debated in the present day, and no solution to his paradoxes has been agreed upon by philosophers": Why don't they just integrate? This is high-school math. Philgoetz (talk) 02:01, 9 December 2023 (UTC)
- Please, explain yourself. What is your point? I suppose you mean to say that a philosophcal paradox of this sort can have no clear solution, as is the case with mathematical problems (perhaps requiring integration). Well, this point is valid as far as epistemology is concerned, but it all comes down to how you interpret the term "solution". It doesn't have to be a numerical solution; could it not be taken to mean the "explanation"? L'OrfeoSon io 09:21, 9 December 2023 (UTC)