Sextus Empiricus and the Skeptic's Beliefs

In his Outlines of Skepticism, Sextus Empiricus claims that the Pyrrhonian Skeptic can live without holding beliefs. According to the 'Rustic' interpretation of this claim, Sextus holds that the Skeptic lives without beliefs of any kind. According to the 'Urbane' interpretation, Sextus' claim concerns only a restricted category of beliefs. I discuss each interpretation in the context of Sextus' broader philosophical stance, and argue for an Urbane interpretation. On this view, Pyrrhonism represents a practicable stance towards the world.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Philosophy

Department dc:contributor.department

Philosophy

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Bruzina, David Arata

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Gifford, Mark

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Miller, Harlan B.
• Pitt, Joseph C.

• epistemology
• philosophical psychology
• ancient epistemology
• Sextus Empiricus
• Pyrrhonian skepticism

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-10022002-171041

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/9604