Ancient Skepticism

Abstract

We have aimed to offer a comprehensive picture of both the history of the various skeptical traditions and the contemporary philosophical discussions of skeptical views, problems, and arguments. Consequently,this first part devoted to ancient skepticism includes chapters not only on the two main Western traditions, namely Pyrrhonism and Academic skepticism, but also on the skeptical aspects of two schools with which they bear close historical and philosophical connections, namely Cyrenaicism and medical Empiricism. Likewise, we have decided to include chapters not only on the chief representatives of Pyrrhonism (Pyrrho, Timon, Aenesidemus, and Sextus) and the skeptical Academy(Arcesilaus and Carneades), but also on less important figures (Menodotus, Philo, Cicero, Plutarch, and Favorinus). Finally, in order not to focus exclusively on Western thought, we have included a chapter devoted to the skeptical strands within classical Indian philosophy, which exhibit remarkable richness and sophistication. Some scholars have argued that there exist both historical and philosophical connectionsbetween Pyrrhonism and classical Indian thought. While the evidence for the historical link is both meager and problematic, we do find certain philosophical similarities?particularly in the skeptical argumentative strategies used by members of the two traditions?as anyone can realize by reading the chapter on Indian skepticism. The reader will also find significant parallels with skeptical views and arguments discussed in contemporary analytic epistemology.