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Theophrastus · Fragments §45.1

Xenophanes on the Principle of the One

Passage 35 of 196 · Greek

Summary

Theophrastus mentions the doctrine of Xenophanes, who assumed a single principle, namely the "one" which is both being and all, and which is neither limited nor unlimited, nor moving nor at rest.

§45.1Fr. 45 Μίαν δὲ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἤτοι ἓν τὸ ὂν καὶ πᾶν καὶ οὔτε πεπερασμένον οὔτε ἄπειρον οὔτε κινούμενον οὔτε ἠρεμοῦν Ξενοφάνη τὸν Κολοφώνιον τὸν Παρμενίδου διδάσκαλον ὑποτίθεσθαί φησιν ὁ Θεόφραστος.
Fr. 45 Theophrastus says that Xenophanes of Colophon, the teacher of Parmenides, assumed a single principle, namely that the being and all is one, and is neither limited nor unlimited, nor moving nor at rest.

Notes

  1. §45.1Ξενοφάνη — Accusative and Infinitive (A.C.I.) construction. The subject accusative Ξενοφάνη (Xenophanes) functions as the subject of the infinitive ὑποτίθεσθαι (to assume, suppose), dependent on the main verb φησιν (says).
  2. §45.1μίαν δὲ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἤτοι ἓν τὸ ὂν καὶ πᾶν — μίαν ... τὴν ἀρχὴν (a single principle) is the direct object of the infinitive ὑποτίθεσθαι, and is linked in apposition to ἓν τὸ ὂν καὶ πᾶν (the one which is being and all) via the particle ἤτοι (namely, that is to say).
  3. §45.1οὔτε πεπερασμένον οὔτε ἄπειρον — The four negative adjectives/participles (οὔτε πεπερασμένον οὔτε ἄπειρον οὔτε κινούμενον οὔτε ἠρεμοῦν) are all in the neuter accusative singular, agreeing with and qualifying ἓν τὸ ὂν.

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §45.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:45.1

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