Editing Eleatics (section)

==History==
Patricia Curd states that the chronology of pre-Socratic philosophers is one of the most contentious issues of pre-Socratic philosophy.{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} Many of the historical details mentioned by [[Plato]], [[Diogenes Laertius]], or [[Apollodorus]] are generally considered by modern scholarship to be of little value,{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} and there are generally few exact dates that can be verified, so most estimates of dates and relative chronology must rely on interpretations of the internal evidence within the surviving [[Diels-Kranz numbering|fragments]].{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} 

There is generally a consensus that Parmenides lived in the early 5th century BC,{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} based on the date and setting of the fictionalized events in Plato's ''[[Parmenides (dialogue)|Parmenides]]'' where Parmenides and Zeno travel to Athens and have a debate with a young [[Socrates]].{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} This would place Parmenides well after other philosophers such as [[Xenophanes]], [[Heraclitus]], and [[Pythagoras]].{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} Although many philosophers throughout history have interpreted the doctrines of the Eleatics as responses to [[Xenophanes]], [[Heraclitus]], or [[Pythagoras]], there is no broad agreement or direct evidence of any influence or direct response, although many theories have been put forth interpreting the Eleatics in terms of these philosophers.{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} For philosophers after Parmenides however, the relative chronology and potential directions of influence become even more difficult to determine.{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} 

For Zeno, it is not clear whether or not [[Anaxagoras]] or [[Empedocles]] influenced or were influenced by any of his ideas, although they appear to have lived at approximately the same time.{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} For Melissus, who lived one generation later, the problem of influence is further complicated by additional potential influences of [[Leucippus]], [[Democritus]], and [[Diogenes of Apollonia]].{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}} For example, some interpreters see Melissus as responding to Leucippus' [[atomism]], which is then responded to by Democritus - but others see Melissus responding to Democritus.{{sfn|Curd|2004|p=15-18}}