Author Description
Alan Bailey offers a clear and vigorous exposition and defence of the philosophy of Sextus Empiricus, one of the most influential of ancient thinkers, the father of philosophical scepticism. The subsequent sceptical tradition in philosophy has not done justice to Sextus: his views stand up today as remarkably insightful, offering a fruitful way to approach issues of knowledge, understanding, belief, and rationality. It is widely supposed that any form of scepticism that arrives at a global denial of the availability of rationally justified beliefs is self-refuting and unliveable. Bailey shows that the former objection can be disarmed by distinguishing between the mature Pyrrhonean sceptic's assessment of his negative epistemological arguments and the assessment forced upon his philosophical opponents by their own rationalistic code. The latter objection overlooks the role Sextus allocates to beliefs that are necessitated by the Pyrrhonist's psychological and biological constitution.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates whether the ancient philosophy of Pyrrhonean scepticism, as articulated by Sextus Empiricus, remains a coherent and viable framework for addressing contemporary problems of knowledge and rationality. Alan Bailey, a scholar of ancient thought, provides a rigorous defense of Sextus against the common historical critique that his philosophy is self-refuting or impossible to practice. By analyzing the distinction between the sceptic's internal epistemological arguments and the rationalistic constraints imposed by their opponents, Bailey argues that Pyrrhonism offers a sophisticated, liveable approach to belief and understanding.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A detailed exposition of the core arguments presented in the works of Sextus Empiricus.
- A critical analysis of the 'self-refutation' objection often leveled against global skepticism.
- An examination of the role of psychological and biological necessity in the formation of non-dogmatic beliefs.
- A comparative study between ancient Pyrrhonean methods and modern rationalistic epistemological codes.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of ancient philosophy frequently cite this text as a vital resource for understanding the nuances of Pyrrhonism beyond standard caricatures. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for those already familiar with the foundational debates in epistemology.
Page Count:
290
Publication Date:
2002-06-20
Publisher:
Clarendon Press
ISBN-10:
0198238525
ISBN-13:
9780198238522
Philosophy
Philosophers
Skepticism
Epistemology
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