User:Oilstone/Sandbox

Outlines of Pyrrhonism is one three main surviving works on the extreme form of skepticism called Pyrrhonism. It was named after Pyrrho of Elis (circa 360-275 B.C.) and recorded by Sextus Empiricus between circa 160-210 A.D.

The task of the skeptic is to refute any possitive doctrine. Within Outlines of Pyrronism there are references to almost every figure of ancient Greek thought. It begins with a description of the three major philosophic systems. Then it describes Pyrrhonian skepticism and how it differs from the other schools which proclaim themselves to be skeptics. It describes the ten modes showing the disagreement amoung the sense impressions amoung animals, humans, and between the organs of sense. Some modes show disagreement because of the nature of the object being judged. Some modes involve problems involving both the subject who judges and the object being judged. All the modes are tied together by the mode of relation. By these modes a person perturbed over which of the conflicting schools of thought he ought to believe is lead to suspension of judgement followed by Ataraxia or "quietude."

Followed by the ten modes are the five modes of the later sceptics (namely Agrippa).

They are:


 * 1) - based on discrepancy.
 * 2) - based on regress ad infinitum.
 * 3) - based on relativity.
 * 4) - based on hypothesis.
 * 5) - based on circular reasoning.

While it may not be a work of art as Sextus sometimes tires the reader with arguments that branch off, by disjunction, and repeats expressions for the mere sake of multiplying words. Nonetheless, Outlines of Pyrronism is a valuble source of knowledge concerning ancient skepticism and a vast arsenal of refutations for arguments.