World Philosophy Day, Parmenides, and Mr. Robot
Today on World Philosophy Day, we will talk about Mr. Robot, the tv series starring Rami Malek that has many important and not so obvious philosophical sub-plots in the show. In case you are not familiar with Mr. Robot, it is a show that was in part inspired by Fight Club, and is a great show that we would recommend. Just be aware that Mr. Robot is known to slow down a bit in Season 2, which caused many people to tune out. But if you keep at it, it picks up again and goes on to be a great, unique tv experience.
There is a scene in Episode 5, Season 4 of Mr. Robot (called “Method Not Allowed”) that features a building with a sign outside saying The Parmenides. Later in the episode Elliot (Rami Malek) and his sister are chased by security guards wearing shirts with The Parmenides logo on it. Parmenides is a famous Greek philosopher, known as the father of metaphysics.
If you have seen Mr. Robot before, or are at least familiar with the plot, you will realize that this reference to the Greek philosopher Parmenides if more than a casual coincidence. It is there because Parmenides question the nature of what is real, and so many things in Mr. Robot are not at all what they seem to be. Mr. Robot is a show with so many layers, that you can rewatch it many times and every time you will discover more and more layers you never noticed previously.
The Philosophical Meaning of Parmenides in Mr. Robot
The television series Mr. Robot is known for its deep philosophical undertones, blending themes of identity, reality, and technology into its narrative. Among its many thought-provoking moments, one stands out for its direct philosophical reference: the invocation of Parmenides. This ancient Greek philosopher’s ideas illuminate the show’s central themes, offering viewers a lens to better understand its protagonist, Elliot Alderson, and his journey.
Who Was Parmenides?
Parmenides (5th century BCE) is one of the pre-Socratic philosophers whose ideas fundamentally shaped Western philosophy. He is best known for his metaphysical poem, On Nature, which posits a stark dichotomy between The Way of Truth and The Way of Opinion. In Parmenides’ view, reality is unchanging, eternal, and indivisible—what he calls Being. Change, motion, and plurality, which seem apparent to our senses, are mere illusions.
For Parmenides, the truth is accessible only through reason, not through perception. His ideas challenge the very notion of “reality,” urging a reevaluation of what we consider real versus illusory.
Parmenides and Mr. Robot
In Mr. Robot, the character Elliot Alderson struggles with layers of reality and identity, often questioning what is real and what is fabricated. His dissociative identity disorder (DID) and the complex web of deception around him echo Parmenides’ philosophy: the distinction between appearance and truth.
Mr. Robot invokes Parmenides explicitly, inviting viewers to see Elliot’s experience as a journey through the philosopher’s Way of Truth. The scene emphasizes themes of unity, permanence, and the illusory nature of the world Elliot perceives.
The Philosophical Layers of Mr. Robot
- The Illusion of Change
Elliot’s world is one of constant flux: shifting loyalties, unexpected twists, and revelations about himself and others. However, Parmenides’ philosophy challenges this seeming chaos. For Parmenides, change is impossible; only Being truly exists. This aligns with the show’s suggestion that Elliot’s fractured identities are not multiple selves but aspects of a singular truth—his core self, which remains constant despite his internal divisions. - Perception vs. Reason
Parmenides distinguished between the unreliable senses and the rational mind. Similarly, Elliot’s perception is often deceptive, manipulated by both external forces and his own mind. His journey mirrors the philosophical pursuit of stripping away illusions to uncover a deeper, immutable truth. In the context of the show, this truth is not just about exposing societal corruption but also about understanding his own identity. - Unity of Being
Parmenides’ Being is indivisible and unified, a stark contrast to the fragmentation Elliot experiences. His struggle to reconcile his identities—Elliot the hacker, Elliot the vigilante, and Elliot the brother—reflects a deeper yearning for wholeness. The invocation of Parmenides underscores the idea that Elliot’s fragmented world may be an illusion masking a unified reality.
The Parmenides Scene’s Broader Implications
The reference to Parmenides also serves as a meta-commentary on Mr. Robot itself. The series often blurs the line between what is real within its narrative and what is part of Elliot’s subjective experience. By invoking a philosopher who denies the reality of change and plurality, the show challenges viewers to question their assumptions about the nature of its story—and their own reality.
The philosophical underpinnings of Parmenides in Mr. Robot are notably showcased in the episode titled “405 Method Not Allowed” (Season 4, Episode 5). The presence of “Parmenides Security,” whose name references the ancient Greek philosopher, invites a deeper exploration of themes central to Parmenides’ philosophy and their relevance to the series’ narrative.
Parmenides is best known for his assertion that reality is singular, unchanging, and eternal. His poem On Nature challenges the notion of change and multiplicity, positing instead that only “being” is real, and any perception of difference or transformation is illusory. This perspective aligns intriguingly with the internal conflicts faced by the protagonist, Elliot Alderson, and the show’s exploration of subjective reality, identity, and the nature of truth.
In “405 Method Not Allowed,” the nearly silent episode emphasizes existential stillness and introspection. The title and atmosphere evoke Parmenides’ philosophy, suggesting that actions—or their absence—reflect deeper truths about Elliot’s fractured identity and his attempts to reconcile disparate aspects of his psyche. Elliot’s struggles to untangle illusion from reality echo Parmenides’ argument that our senses deceive us, obscuring the unified “truth.”
The incorporation of Parmenides as a symbolic element in the episode amplifies Mr. Robot’s overarching themes of reality and perception. The show consistently challenges viewers to question what is real, mirroring Parmenides’ philosophical journey. Elliot’s grappling with his alter ego, Mr. Robot, and the layers of manipulation within the narrative further parallel Parmenides’ rejection of multiplicity as a mere illusion.
The use of Parmenides underscores the show’s intellectual ambition, offering a metaphysical lens through which viewers can interpret the existential dilemmas of its characters. By embedding such references, Mr. Robot not only deepens its philosophical resonance but also invites audiences to engage in the timeless quest for understanding the nature of existence.
Elliot’s journey
The scene with Parmenides in Mr. Robot is more than a nod to classical philosophy; it is a pivotal moment that encapsulates the show’s exploration of truth, perception, and identity. Just as Parmenides sought to reveal the unchanging essence beneath the illusory world of appearances, Elliot’s journey is one of peeling back layers of deception to confront a singular, unyielding truth—about society, his relationships, and himself. In this way, the series invites us to reflect on the nature of reality and the illusions we accept as part of our own lives.
If you want to learn more about philosophy, visit our old blog post about Greek philosophy.
More on Parmenides
Parmenides of Elea is considered the founder of metaphysics and introduced a radical and systematic way of thinking about existence and reality. He was the central figure of the Eleatic School, which emphasized the unity and immutability of being.
Parmenides’ most significant philosophical contribution comes from his poem, On Nature. In this poem, written in hexameter verse, he presents two distinct ways of inquiry: the way of truth (aletheia) and the way of opinion (doxa). The way of truth describes what is real and eternal, while the way of opinion deals with the illusory perceptions of the everyday world.
In the way of truth, Parmenides argues that “what is, is,” and “what is not, is not.” This statement encapsulates his belief in the necessity and unchangeability of being. For Parmenides, reality is a single, unchanging, eternal, and indivisible entity. Change, motion, and multiplicity—perceived through the senses—are illusions. To say something comes into being or ceases to exist implies a transition from “what is not” to “what is,” which is logically impossible under his framework. Thus, only what exists can be thought or spoken of, and this existence is timeless and homogeneous.
In contrast, the way of opinion represents human beliefs based on sensory experiences. Parmenides dismisses these as unreliable and deceptive. He critiques common assumptions about the world, such as the belief in plurality, the passage of time, and the reality of change. In doing so, Parmenides challenges not only pre-Socratic cosmologies, which relied on the dynamic interplay of natural elements, but also the foundations of empirical observation.
Parmenides’ philosophy laid the groundwork for later metaphysical and logical inquiries. His insistence on the unity and immutability of being influenced figures like Plato, who wrestled with reconciling the realm of eternal forms with the flux of the physical world. Aristotle, too, engaged with Parmenidean thought in developing his concept of potentiality and actuality.
Despite his abstract and challenging ideas, Parmenides’ work remains foundational. His exploration of the limits of thought and language continues to resonate in philosophical discussions about the nature of reality, truth, and existence. By insisting that logic governs what can be said or thought, Parmenides established a tradition of rigorous reasoning that continues to shape Western philosophy.
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