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greek-epistemologyfeatured in 16 works

Skepticism

The stance that certain knowledge may be out of reach — and that the honest, even tranquil, response is to suspend judgment.

Greek skepticism is the tradition of systematic doubt about whether certain knowledge is possible at all. It ran in two streams. The Academic skeptics (Arcesilaus and Carneades, 3rd–2nd c. BCE) turned Plato's Academy toward arguing against dogmatic certainty. The Pyrrhonists, who traced themselves to Pyrrho of Elis (c. 360–270 BCE) and were revived by Aenesidemus, sought suspension of judgment (epoche) as a road to tranquility (ataraxia). Preserved largely through Sextus Empiricus (c. 200 CE), these arguments were rediscovered in the Renaissance and went on to shape Montaigne, Descartes, and the whole modern problem of knowledge.

How it traveled

  1. Academica
    Formiae · -45
    explains
  2. Lucullus
    Formiae · -43
    explains
  3. Hermotimus
    Samosata · 180
    explains
  4. Philopseudes sive incredulus
    Samosata · 180
    explains
  5. Adversus Mathematicos
    Alexandria · 190
    explains
  6. Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes
    Alexandria · 210
    explains
  7. Vitae philosophorum
    — · 240
    explains
  8. HaEmunot veHaDeot
    Sura (Babylonia) · 933
  9. Praeparatio Evangelica
    —
    explains
  10. Fragmenta Logica et Physica
    Athens
    explains
  11. Suidae lexicon
    —
    explains
  12. Fragmenta
    Apamea
    explains
  13. Fragmenta
    Messene
    explains
  14. Scholia in Lucianum
    —
    explains
  15. De optima doctrina [attributed]
    Rome
    explains
  16. Stromata
    —
    explains

Key passages(20)

Origin Anchor — gr-skepticism↗origin

Fragments & Testimonia · Pyrrho

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Aristocles of Messene, Fragmenta 3↗challenges

Fragmenta · Aristocles of Messene

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Cicero, Marcus Tullius, Academica 1.45↗explains

Academica · Cicero

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Diogenes Laertius, Vitae philosophorum 1.prol.16↗explains

Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius

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Diogenes Laertius, Vitae philosophorum 9.11.106↗explains

Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius

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Diogenes Laertius, Vitae philosophorum 9.11.70↗explains

Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius

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Diogenes Laertius, Vitae philosophorum 9.11.72↗explains

Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius

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Diogenes Laertius, Vitae philosophorum 9.11.74↗explains

Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius

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Diogenes Laertius, Vitae philosophorum 9.11.92↗explains

Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius

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Gellius, Aulus, Noctes Atticae 11.5↗explains

Noctes Atticae · Aulus Gellius

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Lucian of Samosata, Vitarum auctio 27↗explains

Vitarum auctio · Lucian of Samosata

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Numenius of Apamea, Fragmenta 2↗explains

Fragmenta · Numenius of Apamea

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Sextus Empiricus, Adversus Mathematicos 1.30↗explains

Adversus Mathematicos · Sextus Empiricus

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Sextus Empiricus, Adversus Mathematicos 11.111↗explains

Adversus Mathematicos · Sextus Empiricus

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Sextus Empiricus, Adversus Mathematicos 7.1↗explains

Adversus Mathematicos · Sextus Empiricus

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Sextus Empiricus, Adversus Mathematicos 8.325↗explains

Adversus Mathematicos · Sextus Empiricus

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Sextus Empiricus, Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes 1.1.3↗explains

Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes · Sextus Empiricus

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Sextus Empiricus, Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes 1.1.4↗explains

Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes · Sextus Empiricus

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Sextus Empiricus, Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes 1.12.28↗explains

Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes · Sextus Empiricus

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Sextus Empiricus, Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes 1.15.173↗explains

Pyrrhoniae Hypotyposes · Sextus Empiricus

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