Greek Skepticism: A Study in Epistemology

Greek Skepticism explores the evolution of skeptical philosophy in ancient Greece, focusing on epistemological concerns and framing these inquiries within the broader philosophical challenges of the Hellenistic era. It traces skepticism's progression over six centuries, from early Pyrrhonists to Academic Skeptics, Aenesidemus, and Sextus Empiricus, who refined skepticism's scope and integrated it with empirical medicine. Sextus Empiricus' pragmatic approach made skepticism both a philosophical method and a practical way of life, influencing subsequent thought and offering enduring insights into the complexities of knowledge and belief.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Greek Skepticism delves into the evolution of skeptical philosophy in ancient Greece, exploring epistemological concerns such as knowledge, belief, and perception within the broader philosophical challenges of the Hellenistic era. The study presents skepticism as a dynamic response to recurring questions about human understanding, rather than a static doctrine. It is divided into four sections: early Pyrrhonists, Academic Skeptics, Aenesidemus, and Sextus Empiricus, tracing skepticism's progression over six centuries. Early Pyrrhonists, like Pyrrho, emphasized achieving mental tranquility through the suspension of judgment, viewing philosophy as a practical guide to life. Academic Skeptics, led by figures such as Arcesilaus and Carneades, advanced skepticism by engaging in dialectical arguments to challenge certainty, particularly targeting Stoic doctrines. Their critiques expanded the skeptical framework, linking it to practical ethics and intellectual rigor. Later developments by figures like Aenesidemus and Sextus Empiricus further refined skepticism's scope. Aenesidemus, while enigmatic and associated with Heraclitean ideas, contributed critical arguments that revived Pyrrhonism during his era. Sextus Empiricus, the last significant skeptic, integrated skepticism with empirical medicine, positioning skepticism as a remedy for philosophical dogmatism. His detailed critiques of rival philosophies provide a rich source for understanding Greek skepticism's epistemological depth. Through Sextus's pragmatic approach, skepticism emerged as both a philosophical method and a practical way of life, influencing subsequent thought and offering enduring insights into the complexities of knowledge and belief. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which celebrates the legacy of important works of philosophy and literature.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520307889