Final answer:
Parmenides' philosophy asserts that reality is changeless and not defined by material substance or change, making 'E. None of the above' the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Parmenides was a Presocratic philosopher who posited a unique philosophical view on reality and being. According to Parmenides, the real is changeless and what truly exists is unified, complete, and unchanging. He argued that all change is an illusion, and only by reason, not the senses, can one understand reality. His doctrine suggests that the nature of all reality is being and not becoming, essentially rejecting the concepts of materialism and idealism.
Considering the options provided:
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- A. Only matter exists - Parmenides would disagree, as he believed reality is unchanging, not defined by material substance.
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- B. Everything can be reduced to numbers - This aligns more closely with Pythagorean thought, not Parmenides.
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- C. All things contain their opposite - This idea would imply change, which Parmenides denies.
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- D. All of the above
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- E. None of the above - This would be the most correct option given Parmenides' philosophy.
The correct answer to the student's question, based on Parmenides' philosophy, would thus be E. None of the above.