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Which books by Sextus Empiricus describe Pyrrhonian skepticism?
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Skepticism
Scottish philosopher David Hume, oil on canvas by Allan Ramsay, 1766; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.
The primary works by the ancient Greek philosopher Sextus Empiricus that provide a comprehensive account of Pyrrhonism are:
- Outlines of Pyrrhonism: This text serves as a foundational exposition of the Skeptical school, detailing the arguments and methods used to achieve epochē (suspension of judgment).12
- Against the Mathematicians (also referred to as Adversus mathematicos): In this work, Sextus systematically challenges the dogmatic claims of various fields of knowledge, further elaborating on the Skeptical tropes and arguments.12
Through these writings, Sextus preserved the arguments of earlier Pyrrhonists, such as the 10 tropes attributed to Aenesidemus, to demonstrate the difficulties in establishing reliable criteria for truth. His ultimate goal in these texts was to lead individuals toward ataraxia (unperturbability) by encouraging them to suspend judgment regarding the nature of reality.12