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    Pyrrho (Pyrrhonian skeptics) — Carmelics
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    Pyrrho (Pyrrhonian skeptics)

    ancientPyrrhonian Skepticism

    -360 – -270

    Pyrrho of Elis (c. 360–270 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of Pyrrhonism, the earliest systematic school of philosophical skepticism. He advocated epoché—suspension of judgment on all non-evident matters—as the path to ataraxia (tranquility), arguing that since appearances conflict and no criterion exists to adjudicate between them, neither assent nor denial is warranted.

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    Notable Achievements

    1

    Founded Pyrrhonism, the first systematic school of philosophical skepticism in the Western tradition

    2

    Developed the practice of epoché (suspension of judgment) as a philosophical method

    3

    Linked skeptical practice to eudaimonia by arguing that ataraxia follows from suspending judgment

    4

    Influenced later Academic Skeptics (Arcesilaus, Carneades) and the Neo-Pyrrhonist Sextus Empiricus

    5

    Reportedly encountered Indian gymnosophists during Alexander's campaigns, possibly influencing his outlook

    Positions & Arguments(1)

    Skepticism

    claim

    CP2 — the claim that we are not justified in denying the skeptical hypothesis — cannot be supported by appealing to the undetectability of skeptical scenarios alone

    At a Glance

    Ideas

    1

    Topics

    1

    Era

    ancient

    Tradition

    Pyrrhonian Skepticism

    Topic Influence

    Skepticism1

    Related Thinkers

    Boyd1 sharedRichard Braithwaite1 sharedStathis Psillos1 sharedDavid Lewis1 sharedBas van Fraassen1 sharedImmanuel Kant1 sharedPaul Teller1 sharedRené Descartes1 shared

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