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This paper explores the paradoxes of movement proposed by Zeno of Elea, a pre-Socratic philosopher, highlighting their implications on the concepts of motion and infinity. It discusses key paradoxes such as the Dichotomy, Achilles and the Tortoise, the Arrow, and the Race Track, along with historical and modern interpretations that address these challenges. The conclusion emphasizes the ongoing relevance of Zeno's paradoxes in philosophical discourse and their impact on our understanding of reality.

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Alwin Christopher. R
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3 views

final gaze - Copy

This paper explores the paradoxes of movement proposed by Zeno of Elea, a pre-Socratic philosopher, highlighting their implications on the concepts of motion and infinity. It discusses key paradoxes such as the Dichotomy, Achilles and the Tortoise, the Arrow, and the Race Track, along with historical and modern interpretations that address these challenges. The conclusion emphasizes the ongoing relevance of Zeno's paradoxes in philosophical discourse and their impact on our understanding of reality.

Uploaded by

Alwin Christopher. R
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ST JOSEPH’S INTERDIOCESAN SEMINARY

THE CONCEPT OF MOVEMENT ACCORDING TO


ZENO OF ELEA

A Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of


the Requirements for the Bachelor’s
Degree in Philosophy

Department of Philosophy

By
Alwin Christopher Robert

Moderator
Rev. Fr Joswine Praveen D’Souza

Mangalore
July 2024

1
Table of Contents
1. Title page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
2. Table of contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
3. Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
4. Zeno of Elea and his Philosophical Context ------------------------------------------ 3
5. The paradoxes of Movement ----------------------------------------------------------- 3
6. The dichotomy paradox ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3
7. Achilles and the Tortoise --------------------------------------------------------------- 3
8. The arrow paradox ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
9. The stadium paradox -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
10. Interpretation and Implications -------------------------------------------------------- 4
11. Historical interpretations --------------------------------------------------------------- 4
12. Modern interpretations ------------------------------------------------------------------ 4
13. Critics and Counterarguments --------------------------------------------------------- 5
14. Conclusion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Bibliography ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5

2
1. Introduction
Zeno of Elea is a pre-Socratic philosopher. He is from 5th century BCE. He is best known for
his paradoxes which deal the concepts of plurality, motion, and space. His paradoxes have
attracted many philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists for centuries, raising
fundamental questions about the nature of reality and our understanding of movement. This
paper explores Zeno’s paradoxes of movement, their interpretations, and their implications on
both ancient and modern thought.

2. Zeno of Elea and his Philosophical Context


Zeno of Elea was a student of Parmenides who was a pre-Socratic philosopher. He argued
that change and plurality were illusions. Zeno's paradoxes were helpful to support
Parmenides doctrine by demonstrating that common ideas of motion and multiplicity lead to
contradictions. Zeno's work laid important groundwork for the development of logical
argumentation and the philosophical study of infinity.1

3. The Paradoxes of Movement


Zeno is well known mainly for his paradoxes about movement. These paradoxes are called
the stadium or dichotomy, Achilles, the arrow, and the race track or masses. According to
Zeno, if someone admits that movement exists, it leads to a series of stupidities. These
stupidities are still discussed today, just as they were in ancient times.2

3.1 The Stadium or Dichotomy Paradox


The Dichotomy Paradox states that before an object can travel a certain distance, it must first
cover half of that distance. Before it can cover half, it must cover a quarter, and so on and on
forever. This leads to the conclusion that motion is impossible because it requires completing
an infinite number of tasks, which seems absurd.3

3.2 Achilles and the Tortoise Paradox


If movement starts, it never actually completes. In other words, the fastest runner cannot
catch the slowest. For example, if a tortoise is ahead on a road, Achilles will never catch it.
First, Achilles must cover half the distance between them, then half of the remaining
distance, then half of that, and so on. Each time he covers half the remaining distance, there is
still some distance left to cover. Meanwhile, the tortoise keeps moving forward at its own
pace. Because there is always some distance left for Achilles to cover, he can never overtake
the tortoise. (The name Achilles mentioned here is a Greek mythological hero or a warrior). 4

1
David Sedley, ed., The Cambridge companion to: Greek and Roman Philosophy (Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2003), 64.
2
Dario Composta, History of Ancient Philosophy, ed. Lesia M. Cizdyn, trans. Myroslaw A. Cizdyn (Bangalore:
Theological Publications in India, 1990), 62.
3
Dario Composta, History of Ancient Philosophy, ed. Lesia M. Cizdyn, trans. Myroslaw A. Cizdyn (Bangalore:
Theological Publications in India, 1990), 62.
4
Dario Composta, History of Ancient Philosophy, ed. Lesia M. Cizdyn, trans. Myroslaw A. Cizdyn (Bangalore:
Theological Publications in India, 1990), 63.

3
3.3 The Arrow Paradox
When something moves, it has to be in a specific place at every moment. For example, think
of an arrow flying through the air. At each moment, the arrow is in one exact spot that
matches its size. Because it's in this spot at that moment, it looks like it's not moving at all.
So, at any single moment, the arrow seems to be still. This means that while the arrow is
moving, it is still at each moment it occupies its space, making it seem like it’s not really
moving.5

3.4 The Race Track or the Masses Paradox


Zeno said if something is moving, it should cover the same distance in the same time if it's
going at the same speed. Imagine two trains on separate tracks. If one train travels one
kilometre by itself, it takes a certain amount of time. But if two trains travel one kilometre in
opposite directions, it takes half the time it would take for one train alone. Zeno thought this
didn’t make sense because it breaks the rule that equal distances should take equal time for
things moving at the same speed. So, by these arguments Zeno says that there is no
movement.6

4. Interpretation and Implications

4.1 Historical Interpretations


Historically, Zeno's paradoxes were seen as puzzles to be resolved rather than serious
challenges to the concept of motion. Aristotle solves Zeno's paradoxes by explaining that
infinities exist only in theory, not in reality. He argues that motion happens in finite steps, not
infinite ones. For the Arrow paradox, he says that time and motion is continuous, not made of
still moments. In the Stadium paradox, he clarifies that relative motion and time are
consistent. Aristotle's ideas resolve the paradoxes by refining how we understand infinity and
continuity.7
4.2 Morden Interpretations
In modern times, Zeno's paradoxes have been revisited with advances in mathematics and
physics. Calculus, developed by Newton and Leibniz, provides a way to understand how
infinite processes can result in finite outcomes, helping to explain continuous motion and
resolve Zeno's paradoxes.8 Quantum mechanics adds another layer by showing that particles
can behave in strange ways, further challenging our classical understanding of motion.
Theories of space-time suggest that space and time are interconnected and may not behave as

5
Dario Composta, History of Ancient Philosophy, ed. Lesia M. Cizdyn, trans. Myroslaw A. Cizdyn (Bangalore:
Theological Publications in India, 1990), 63.
6
Dario Composta, History of Ancient Philosophy, ed. Lesia M. Cizdyn, trans. Myroslaw A. Cizdyn (Bangalore:
Theological Publications in India, 1990), 64.
7
Aristotle, The physics, trans. Philip H. Wicksteed and Francis M. Cornford (London:
William Heinemann ltd new York: G.P Putam’s sons, 1929), 233a21-33.
8
Boyer, Carl B, The History of the Calculus and Its Conceptual Development, Dover Publications, 1959.

4
simply as we once thought. These new perspectives show that motion and space are more
complex, but they ultimately support the idea that Zeno's paradoxes do not prevent motion.9

5. Criticisms and Counterarguments


Critics argue that Zeno's paradoxes rely on a flawed understanding of infinity and continuity.
Modern mathematics provides tools like limits and integrals to address these issues.
Additionally, Zeno's assumptions about the nature of time and space may not hold in light of
contemporary physics. For instance, the concept of time as a series of discrete instants is
challenged by the notion of space time in relativity.10

6. Conclusion
Zeno of Elea's paradoxes remain a fascinating challenge to our understanding of motion and
infinity. While modern mathematics and physics provide frameworks that address many of
Zeno's arguments, his paradoxes continue to stimulate philosophical inquiry and debate.
Zeno's work underscores the importance of questioning and critically examining the
fundamental assumptions underlying our perceptions of reality.

Bibliography
David Sedley, ed., The Cambridge companion to: Greek and Roman Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge
.

Dario Composta, History of Ancient Philosophy, ed. Lesia M. Cizdyn, trans. Myroslaw
A.Cizdyn (Bangalore: Theological Publications in India, 1990.

Aristotle, The Physic. Translated by Philip H. Wicksteed and Francis M. Cornford. New
York: G.P Putam’s sons, 1929. (PDF DRIVE)

Boyer, Carl B. The History of the Calculus and Its Conceptual Development. Dover
Publications, 1959. (PDF DRIVE)

Hawking, Stephen. A Brief History of Time. Bantam Books, 1988. (PDF DRIVE)

Grünbaum, Adolf. Modern Science and Zeno's Paradoxes. George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1967.

9
Hawking, Stephen. A Brief History of Time, Bantam Books, 1988.

10
Grünbaum, Adolf. Modern Science and Zeno's Paradoxe, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1967.

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