Sextus Empiricus and the Search for Intellectual Tranquility

https://escapeplatoscave.com/sextus-empiricus-and-the-search-for-intellectual-tranquility/

created by epc2020 on 14/01/2020 at 14:19 UTC

900 upvotes, 11 top-level comments (showing 11)

Comments

Comment by [deleted] at 14/01/2020 at 17:19 UTC

62 upvotes, 2 direct replies

I read Sextus Empiricus’ Outlines of Pyrrhonism maybe a year ago. There is definitely a lot of Buddhist and Eastern influence on Pyrrhonism. It makes sense considering Pyrrho apparently traveled to India with Alexander the Great and presumably picked up a lot of Indian philosophy.

Comment by [deleted] at 14/01/2020 at 20:50 UTC

84 upvotes, 2 direct replies

[removed]

Comment by toasterstroodal at 15/01/2020 at 02:24 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Thank you, I really needed this!

Comment by Insaiyan117 at 15/01/2020 at 06:40 UTC

5 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Is it bad that my first thought when seeing this post was Monty Python's the life of bryan?

Comment by redsparks2025 at 15/01/2020 at 05:12 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

An interesting article. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

I would say that the general public understanding of skepticism (and cynicism) has changed over the centuries since Sextus times. In his time he may have seen skepticism as a way to achieve ataraxia (tranquility) but in our times it is a way for internet trolls to make themselves feel superior to others and/or spread anger and discord. Like a troll thinking "*Ha. Ha. I found a hole in your argument and therefore your whole argument is sh-t just as I knew it would be*."

I'm certain Sextus would not have approved of the type of skepticism that is being practiced now on the internet. Just like Diogenes would not approve of the type of cynicism that is practiced now on the internet.

The internet troll version of a skeptic (or cynic) can best be described by a quote from the Tibetan Buddhist poem of Luipa[1] "*a wild dog with honey rubbed on its nose madly devours whatever it sees*".

1: http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/philosophy/vaira/009-Mahamudra.htm

And contrary to your article - which is fine if those that are engaged in a debate are doing so in good faith - with an internet troll it is often better to know when not to respond (or even not respond at all) to the challenges of their skepticism (or cynicism). It is difficult but often necessary.

The philosophy of cynicism[2] ~ W.D. Desmond ~ TED-Ed ~ Youtube

2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utzym1I_BiY

Comment by lurkerofredditusers at 14/01/2020 at 23:41 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

That is a very well written piece

Comment by PCprincipality at 15/01/2020 at 01:00 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Ignorance is bliss

Comment by Spike-Rockit at 15/01/2020 at 03:13 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

New band name! I call it!

Comment by [deleted] at 15/01/2020 at 07:55 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

The thing that strikes me most about this article and skepticism in this light. Is the scientific method mentioned.

You can claim the apple is red for me. And if consensus is over all " the apple is red " then that is a scientific theory.

Much the same way light bends through a crystal. " The light bends and creates colors for me"

But what if we say, meet another species that precieves light differently. Would they not experience the light bending or the colors?

The entire perception of the universe could be wrong. Limited by our tools of perception. The 5 senses.