Parmenides

Parmenides was an ancient philosopher who argued that reality is unchanging and singular. He believed that change and diversity are illusions, and what truly is, must be eternal and unchanging. For Parmenides, identity is crucial; something cannot change into something else without losing its essence. Therefore, if something exists, it must always exist as it is, with no inherent capacity for change. This perspective raises important questions in metaphysics about the nature of existence, identity, and the perception of change, influencing later philosophical thought, particularly regarding the relationship between being and becoming.