- 1. Outlines of Pyrrhonism, a pivotal work by the ancient Greek philosopher Sextus Empiricus, serves as a foundational text for the skeptical school of thought known as Pyrrhonism. In this comprehensive treatise, Sextus expounds upon the principles and practices of skepticism as established by Pyrrho of Elis, detailing how one can achieve tranquility (ataraxia) through the suspension of judgment (epoché) regarding non-evident matters. The work is structured into three main sections, where Sextus examines the limits of human knowledge, critiques dogmatic philosophies, and elucidates the practical implications of adopting a skeptical approach to belief and knowledge. He articulates the significance of recognizing the relativity of all perceptions and judgments, arguing that such recognition leads to an inner peace untroubled by the uncertainties of existence. Sextus's meticulous arguments and systematic questioning invite readers to challenge their own certainties and engage in a philosophical exploration that prioritizes inquiry over conviction, ultimately advocating for a lifestyle of moderation and intellectual humility. Outlines of Pyrrhonism remains influential not only in philosophical discourse but also in shaping modern considerations of skepticism and the nature of belief.
What does 'epoché' refer to in Pyrrhonism?
A) Suspension of judgment
B) Logical deduction
C) Moral virtue
D) Divine revelation
- 2. What does Sextus mean by 'isostheneia'?
A) Physical balance
B) Universal equality
C) Mathematical equivalence
D) Equal strength of opposing arguments
- 3. What is the skeptic's attitude toward appearances (phainomena)?
A) They accept appearances without belief about their reality
B) They deny appearances completely
C) They ignore appearances entirely
D) They consider appearances absolutely real
- 4. How does Sextus view the criterion problem?
A) He accepts sensory evidence as criterion
B) He suspends judgment about any criterion of truth
C) He denies the existence of truth
D) He proposes reason as the only criterion
- 5. What is the skeptic's approach to causation?
A) Acceptance of all causal claims
B) Suspension of judgment about causes
C) Belief in divine causation only
D) Denial of all causation
- 6. How does Sextus respond to the 'apraxia' objection (that skepticism makes action impossible)?
A) Action requires dogmatic belief
B) We should act randomly
C) We can act according to appearances and customs
D) Skepticism does require complete inaction
- 7. What is the role of opposition in Pyrrhonian practice?
A) To prove skepticism superior
B) To establish positive doctrines
C) To defeat all other philosophers
D) To create equal arguments leading to suspension
- 8. How does Sextus characterize dogmatists?
A) Only materialist philosophers
B) All religious people
C) Anyone who speaks confidently
D) Those who make claims about non-evident things
- 9. How does Sextus view ethical claims?
A) He suspends judgment about good and bad by nature
B) He accepts conventional morality absolutely
C) He proposes a new ethical system
D) He denies any morality exists
- 10. How does Sextus view the concept of time?
A) He suspends judgment about time's nature
B) He defines time as mere convention
C) He proves time is unreal
D) He accepts time as objectively real
- 11. What is the skeptic's attitude toward pleasure and pain?
A) They seek maximum pleasure
B) They are indifferent to both
C) They experience them but suspend judgment about their nature
D) They reject all pleasure
- 12. How does Sextus approach physical theories?
A) He rejects all physical inquiry
B) He opposes them with equal arguments
C) He creates his own physics
D) He accepts atomism as true
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