On the Supposed Monism of Thales in PHerc. 1788 (= VH2 VIII 60, fr. 6). Praesocratica Herculanensia I

The paper considers PHerc. 1788, fr. 6 Crönert as a source for Presocratic doxography. Indeed, in the Neapolitan apograph of the papyrus it is possible to read a testimonium to Thales, which has hitherto not been taken into due account. A clear reference to a monistic physical theory can be restored in the lines immediately following the mention of Thales. The piece of evidence falls in a polemical context. An Epicurean (probably Philodemus) seems to take the side of a philosopher accused by others (most likely Epicurean dissidents) to have stolen several theories of Thales and in particular his equation of the first principle with the “One” (ἕν).