Philosophy Quote by David Foster Wallace
![“Maybe even more important than the D.B.P. [Divine Brotherhood of Pythagoras], ∞-wise is the protomystic Parmenides of Elea (c.515-? BCE), not only because of his distinction between the 'Way of Truth' and 'Way of Seeing' framed the terms of Greek metaphysics and (again) influenced Plato, but…” quote by David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dbb/david-foster-wallace-161_philosophy_maybe-even-more-important-than-the-d-b-p_1274684.jpg)
““Maybe even more important than the D.B.P. [Divine Brotherhood of Pythagoras], ∞-wise is the protomystic Parmenides of Elea (c.515-? BCE), not only because of his distinction between the 'Way of Truth' and 'Way of Seeing' framed the terms of Greek metaphysics and (again) influenced Plato, but because Parmenides' #1 student and defender was the aforementioned Zeno, the most fiendishly clever and upsetting philosopher ever (who can be seen actually kicking Socrates' ass, argumentatively speaking, in Plato's Parmenides ).””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The View from Mrs. Spoons" (1996) discussing ancient philosophy
Wallace highlights Parmenides' distinction between truth and perception, noting its influence on later philosophers and its relevance to modern thought.
In simple terms: Truth differs from how we see it.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about reality and perception.
Themes
philosophy
perception
truth
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
intellectual
educational
When to use this quote
- academic study
- critical thinking
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
metaphysics
epistemology
historical influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does distinguishing truth from perception affect daily decisions?
- Can we ever fully know the "Way of Truth"?
A Different Perspective
Philosophical distinctions can be abstract and hard to apply practically.
![“Socrates (770-399 B.C.[E.]) is possibly the most enigmatic figure in the entire history of philosophy. He never wrote a single line. Yet he is one of the philosophers who has had the greatest influence on European thought, not least because of the dramatic manner of his death.” quote by Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/402/jostein-gaarder-676_history_socrates-770-399-b-c-e-is-possibly-the-m_811167.jpg)
![“Kepler followed Proclus and believed that 'the main goal of Euclid was to build a geometric theory of the so-called Platonic solids.' Kepler was fascinated by Proclus and often quotes him calling him a 'Pythagorean'. [History of Mathematics]” quote by C. Smoryński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68c/c-smory-ski-172317_euclid_kepler-followed-proclus-and-believed-tha_2944745.jpg)
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
