Thing of the Day #100: Parmenides

Dear Thing of the Day,

What shape is the universe?

Yours,

Arthur S.

The universe is a sphere.

This was proved in the fifth century BCE, by the philosopher Parmenides.

The argument goes like this:

1. Existence exists.

2. Nonexistence does not exist.

3. Existence cannot be divided into parts, because that would suggest that parts of Existence are separated by Nonexistence (which does not exist).

4. Existence must be eternal, because if it ended then there would be Nonexistence after (which does not exist), and if it began there would be Nonexistent before (which does not exist).

5. Existence cannot change, because that would imply that something that did not exist now does exist (but Nonexistence does not exist).

6. The only shape that doesn’t change when you rotate it is a sphere.

7. Therefore Existence is a sphere.

8. Therefore the only thing that exists is a solitary uniform sphere eternally suspended in a sea of Nonexistence.