Mind over Matter

PHYSICS THROUGH METAPHYSICS
Parmenides' discussion of Nature (ie. his physics) seems to have been complex, involving different bands around the earth and mixing of light and dark. Plutarch states that Parmenides had much to say about the earth and sky, that, in fact, "he left nothing of any importance unsaid". For Parmenides, earth was the basis of matter and fire the craftsman.

Diogenes Laertius tells us that Parmenides was the first to declare that the earth was spherical and the centre of the universe. All his reasoning (ie. his metaphysics) is based on his understanding of the nature of Being. Since, Parmenides conceives of Being as perfect and spatially finite, it follows that it is the most perfect of shapes, a sphere, with everything equidistant from the central point. It is also limited - in the bonds of inflexible Necessity, because to be unlimited would mean a lack, and perfection can not be lacking.

"But it is motionless in the limits of mighty bonds, without beginning, without cease, since becoming and destruction have been driven very far away, and true conviction has rejected them. And remaining the same in the same place, it rests by itself and thus remains there fixed; for powerful Necessity holds it in the bonds of limit, which constrains it round about, because it is decreed by Destiny that being shall not be unlimited. For it is not lacking; but if it were infinite it would be lacking everything."

(Diogenes Laertius IX.21)