Pyrrho of Elis
Since we cannot be certain of anything, we should suspend judgment – and that very restraint brings peace of mind.
Placement
Later skeptics named their school after him (Pyrrhonism): suspension of judgment leads to tranquility of the soul.
Key ideas
- Epoché
- Ataraxia
Influence
Influenced by 1
Democritus
influenced by
Pyrrho studied with the Democritean Anaxarchus, and Philo of Athens said he cited Democritus most; Democritus’ distrust of the senses is a likely source of his scepticism. Diogenes Laertius IX.61, IX.67; Democritus, DK 68 B9, B117; SEP “Pyrrho”
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
Democritus › c. 460–370 BCE
Influenced 3
Epicurus
influenced disputed ✓
Epicurus’ teacher Nausiphanes had heard Pyrrho, and Epicurus admired Pyrrho’s way of life, often asking about him; any doctrinal debt is disputed (Diogenes Laertius IX.64). Diogenes Laertius IX.64, IX.69, X.8; SEP “Pyrrho”
Epicurus › 341–270 BCE
Arcesilaus
influenced disputed
The Stoic Ariston mocked Arcesilaus as ‘Plato in front, Pyrrho behind, Diodorus in the middle’; how much his suspension of judgement owed to Pyrrho is disputed. Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism I.234; Diogenes Laertius IV.33; SEP “Arcesilaus”
Evidence: AI draft
Arcesilaus › c. 316–241 BCE
Sextus Empiricus
influenced
Sextus called his scepticism Pyrrhonian because Pyrrho seemed to have devoted himself to it more fully than anyone before (Outlines of Pyrrhonism I.7). Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism I.7; SEP “Sextus Empiricus”; SEP “Pyrrho”
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
Sextus Empiricus › c. 160–210
Position
Pyrrho is regarded as the founder of Greek scepticism. According to Timon, he taught that things are by nature indistinguishable, unmeasurable and undecidable, so that neither our perceptions nor our opinions are true or false. The fitting response is to remain without opinions, to suspend judgement and to say of each thing that it no more is than is not. The result is not despair but tranquillity (ataraxia), freedom from the worries that firm beliefs bring. Later sceptics such as Aenesidemus and Sextus Empiricus named their movement after him, and through them scepticism reached Montaigne and modern philosophy.
Life & context
Pyrrho of Elis, originally a painter, accompanied Alexander the Great on his campaign to India together with the philosopher Anaxarchus, and is said to have met Indian ascetics there. Back in Elis he led a quiet life and was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. He wrote nothing; his ideas were recorded by his pupil Timon of Phlius.
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