Pros dogmatikous

work by Sextus Empiricus

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July 13, 2026

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Pros dogmatikous, meaning "Against the Dogmatists," is a significant work by the ancient Greek philosopher Sextus Empiricus. Written in the 3rd century CE, it is a comprehensive account of Greek Skepticism. Sextus Empiricus, a physician and head of a Skeptical school, is known for elaborating on the "10 tropes" of Aenesidemus, which present arguments to induce suspension of judgment (epochē).123

The work challenges philosophers who claim to possess certain knowledge, arguing that true understanding is unattainable. By refuting various philosophical systems, Sextus aimed to lead readers to a state of ataraxia, or unperturbability, by encouraging them to suspend judgment on matters of certainty. The publication of his Outlines of Pyrrhonism in 1562 profoundly influenced European philosophical thought, particularly the empiricists of the 17th and 18th centuries.312

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Western philosophy
Skepticism
…ce), wrote a large work, Pros dogmatikous (“Against the Dogmatists”), in which he tried to refute all of the philosophers who held positive views, and in so doing he quoted extensively from their works, thus preserving much that would otherwise have been lost. It is a noteworthy fact that the…
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…ce), wrote a large work, Pros dogmatikous (“Against the Dogmatists”), in which he tried to refute all of the philosophers who held positive views, and in so doing he quoted extensively from their works, thus preserving much that would otherwise have been lost. It is a noteworthy fact that the…
Read More