Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism
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| Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism |
From introduction
The following treatise on Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism has been prepared to supply a need much felt in the English language by students of Greek philosophy. For while other schools of Greek philosophy have been exhaustively and critically discussed by English scholars, there are few sources of information available to the student who wishes to make himself familiar with the teachings of Pyrrhonism.
The aim has been, accordingly, to give a concise presentation of Pyrrhonism in relation to its historical develop- ment and the Scepticism of the Academy, with critical references to the French and German works existing on the subject. The time and manner of the connection of Sextus Empiricus with the Pyrrhonean School has also been discussed.
As the First Book of the Hypotyposes, or Pyrrhonic Sketches by Sextus Empiricus, contains the substance of the teachings of Pyrrhonism, it has been hoped that a translation of it into English might prove a useful contribution to the literature on Pyrrhonism, and thistion has been added to the critical part of the work. In making this translation, and in the general study of the works of Sextus, the Greek text of Immanuel Bekker, Berlin, 1842, has been used, with frequent consultation of the text of J. A. Fabrioius, 1718, which was taken directly from the existing manuscripts of the works of Sextus.
The divisions into chapters, with the headings of the chapters in the translation, is the same as Fabricius gives from the manuscripts, although not used by Bekker, and the numbers of the paragraphs are the same as those given by both Fabricius and Bekker. Eeferences to Diogenes Laertius and other ancient works have been carefully verified...
The principal modern authors consulted are the following: Ritter, Geschichte der Philosophie, II. Auf., Hamburg, 18.36—38. Zeller, Philosophie der Griechen, III. Auf., Leipzig, 1879—89. Lewes, History of Philosophy, Vol. I., London, 1866. Ueberweg, History of Philosophy, IV. ed., translated by Morris, 1871. Brochard, Les Sceptiques Grecs, Paris, 1877. Brochard, Pyrrhon et le Scepticism Primitive, No. 5, Ribot's Revue Phil., Paris, 188,5,
📖 Core Study Points
- Sextus Empiricus → A physician and philosopher (2nd–3rd century CE) whose works preserve the doctrines of Pyrrhonian scepticism.
- Greek scepticism → Originated with Pyrrho and developed through the Academy (Arcesilaus, Carneades) before Sextus systematized it.
- Suspension of judgment → The sceptic refrains from asserting truth or falsehood, achieving ataraxia (tranquility).
- Patrick’s analysis → She interprets scepticism as a method of intellectual humility rather than nihilism.
- Relation to modern thought → Patrick connects ancient scepticism to modern empiricism and scientific doubt.
🌍 Key Themes
- Epistemology: Limits of human knowledge and perception.
- Ethics: How scepticism leads to peace of mind through non‑dogmatism.
- Philosophical lineage: From Socratic questioning to Pyrrhonian suspension.
- Comparative insight: Patrick contrasts Greek scepticism with Stoicism and dogmatic schools.
