Non-Being in Ancient Thought

Being has been at the forefront of philosophical debate from its very beginnings, whereas non-being has been considered derivative of being and an obstacle for thought. Dmitri Nikulin argues that without non-being, being can neither be nor thought. Non-Being in Ancient Thought provides a critical, historical, and systematic reconstruction of the concept of non-being in ancient philosophy, from Pre-Socratic thought to Neoplatonism, in the works of Parmenides, Democritus, Plato, Diogenes, Aristotle, Plotinus, and Simplicius. Most contemporary studies of ontology in antiquity are dedicated to being in its philosophical and philological meaning and significance and yet, non-being is a central topic for every ancient philosopher. Therefore, rethinking the role of non-being is essential, since it can lead to the reconsideration of the concept of being and a different account of being and existence. A careful analysis of the relevant texts demonstrates that ancient thinkers stress the