ABSTRACT
Zeno was a closer follower of Parmenides.1 His writings were designed to defend Parmenides’ statements against his critics. In his Parmenides, Plato represents Socrates as having conversations with an old Parmenides and the younger Zeno (though older than Socrates). He represents Zeno as saying about his works: ‘If things are many they must be like and unlike and this is impossible.’ Socrates points out that the issue concerns the use of ‘sameness’. But, unlike things, this cannot be like and unlike – this is impossible. ‘What is’ cannot be a plurality, since this would entail incompatible attributes.
