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Early Theory of Language and Sophistic Argumentation in the Derveni Papyrus
The article discusses the impact of the early sophistic theories of language on
the style and argumentation of the Derveni author and shows that he engages deeply with
the problematics of semantics as discussed by the sophists, in particular the notions of
correct speech, the proper meanings of words, synonymy and homonymy. Aristotle notes
that the main device of the sophists is homonymy, the use of which permeates the style
and argumentation of the text of the papyrus. According to Aristotle, the concept of homonymy
includes general notions. Such an approach can already be observed in the Derveni
papyrus, in particular regarding the notion of sameness (τὸ αὐτό) which the author
uses in three different ways while playing with its polysemy: the sameness of one and
many, the sameness of the opposite aspects of one process and the sameness of synonyms.
The article suggests how this sophisticated approach of the author may correspond to earlier
hermeneutic traditions related to the orphic theogonic poems.