Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of Pyrrhonism

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Harvard University Press, 1933 - Philosophy, Ancient
Sextus Empiricus (ca. AD 160-210), exponent of skepticism and critic of the Dogmatists, was a Greek physician and philosopher, pupil and successor of the medical skeptic Herodotus (not the historian) of Tarsus. He probably lived for years in Rome and possibly also in Alexandria and Athens. His three surviving works are 'Outlines of Pyrrhonism' (three books and the practical and ethical skepticism of Pyrrho of Elis, ca. 360-275 BC, as developed later, presenting also a case against the Dogmatists); Against the Dogmatistis' (five books dealing with the Logicians, Physicists, and Ethicists); and 'Against the professors' (six books: Grammarians, Rhetors, Geometers, Arithmeticians, Astrologers, and Musicians). These two latter works might be called a general criticism of professors of all arts and sciences. Sextus' work is a source for the history of thought especially because of his development and formulation of former skeptic doctrines.

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