Anaxagoras · Philosophy

Nothing Comes From Nothing

Anaxagoras belonged to the great generation that answered Parmenides’ proof that change is impossible. By accepting eternal, uncreated ingredients and explaining all change as their mixing and separating, he saved the changing world while honouring ‘nothing comes from nothing.’

What you'll be able to recall

You learned how Anaxagoras answered Parmenides: he accepted that nothing comes from nothing (so the basic ingredients are eternal and uncreated), but saved real change by recasting it as the mixing and separating of those conserved ingredients. Explain how this rescues change from Parmenides’ proof of its impossibilit…

Leads to Parmenides.

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