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Sextus Empiricus is one of the most important ancient philosophical
writers after Plato and Aristotle. His writings are our main source
for the doctrines and methods of Scepticism. He probably lived in
the second century AD. Eleven books of his writings have survived,
covering logic, physics, ethics, and many other fields. Against the
Grammarians is the first book of Sextus' Adversus Mathematicos, his
broad-ranging polemic against the various liberal studies of
classical learning. It is prefaced by a short general attack on the
arts (included in this volume); then Sextus focuses on the
grammatical writers of the classical era, categorizing, analysing,
and criticizing their doctrines. The result is not only an
invaluable source for ancient ideas about grammar, language, and
literary technique, but an excellent example of sustained Sceptical
reasoning. David Blank presents a new translation into clear modern
English of this important treatise, together with the first ever
commentary on the work. In an extended introduction he discusses
Against the Grammarians in the broad context of Sextus' work as a
whole, Scepticism in general, and the history of ancient writings
in this field.
Outlines of Scepticism, by the Greek philosopher Sextus Empiricus, is a work of major importance for the history of Greek philosophy. It is the fullest extant account of ancient skepticism, and it is also one of our most copious sources of information about the other Hellenistic philosophies. Its argumentative approach revolutionized the study of philosophy when Sextus' works were rediscovered in the sixteenth century. This volume presents the accurate and readable translation that was first published in 1994, together with a substantial new historical and philosophical introduction by Jonathan Barnes.
How ancient skepticism can help you attain tranquility by learning
to suspend judgment Along with Stoicism and Epicureanism,
Skepticism is one of the three major schools of ancient Greek
philosophy that claim to offer a way of living as well as thinking.
How to Keep an Open Mind provides an unmatched introduction to
skepticism by presenting a fresh, modern translation of key
passages from the writings of Sextus Empiricus, the only Greek
skeptic whose works have survived. While content in daily life to
go along with things as they appear to be, Sextus advocated-and
provided a set of techniques to achieve-a radical suspension of
judgment about the way things really are, believing that such
nonjudging can be useful for challenging the unfounded dogmatism of
others and may help one achieve a state of calm and tranquility. In
an introduction, Richard Bett makes the case that the most
important lesson we can draw from Sextus's brand of skepticism
today may be an ability to see what can be said on the other side
of any issue, leading to a greater open-mindedness. Complete with
the original Greek on facing pages, How to Keep an Open Mind offers
a compelling antidote to the closed-minded dogmatism of today's
polarized world.
About Sextus Sextus Empiricus is one of the most important ancient
philosophical writers after Plato and Aristotle. His writings are
our main source for the doctrines and arguments of Scepticism. He
probably lived in the second century AD. Eleven books of his
writings have survived, covering logic, physics, ethics, and
numerous more specialized fields. About Against the Ethicists In
this unjustly neglected and misunderstood work Sextus sets out a
distinctive Sceptic position in ethics. He discusses the concepts
good and bad, and puts forward the sceptical argument that nothing
is either good or bad by nature or intrinsically or invariably, but
only relatively to persons and/or to circumstances. He then argues
that the sceptic is better off than the non-sceptic. In the latter
part of the book, Sextus attacks the Stoic view that there is such
a thing as a `skill for life'. About this edition This volume
contains a translation of Against the Ethicists in clear modern
English, together with an introduction and a detailed commentary.
Those who have discussed this work in the past have tended to
underestimate it, often regarding its main position as essentially
the same as that of Sextus' better-known Outlines of Pyrrhonism.
Richard Bett shows that Against the Ethicists represents quite a
distinct and coherent philosophical outlook, associated with a
phase of Scepticism earlier than Sextus himself, an outlook of
which little other evidence survives.
"Judicious in every respect: selection, translation and structuring
of the texts, footnotes, bibliography, and index. . . . The book of
choice for undergraduate courses." --Edward M. Galligan, University
of North Carolina
Sextus Empiricus (ca. 160-210 CE), exponent of scepticism and
critic of the Dogmatists, was a Greek physician and philosopher,
pupil and successor of the medical sceptic Herodotus (not the
historian) of Tarsus. He probably lived for years in Rome and
possibly also in Alexandria and Athens. His three surviving works
are "'Outlines of Pyrrhonism'" (three books on the practical and
ethical scepticism of Pyrrho of Elis, ca. 360-275 BCE, as developed
later, presenting also a case against the Dogmatists); "'Against
the Dogmatists'" (five books dealing with the Logicians, the
Physicists, and the Ethicists); and "'Against the Professors'" (six
books: Grammarians, Rhetors, Geometers, Arithmeticians,
Astrologers, and Musicians). These two latter works might be called
a general criticism of professors of all arts and sciences.
Sextus's work is a valuable source for the history of thought
especially because of his development and formulation of former
sceptic doctrines.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Sextus Empiricus is in
four volumes.
Sextus Empiricus (ca. 160-210 CE), exponent of scepticism and
critic of the Dogmatists, was a Greek physician and philosopher,
pupil and successor of the medical sceptic Herodotus (not the
historian) of Tarsus. He probably lived for years in Rome and
possibly also in Alexandria and Athens. His three surviving works
are "'Outlines of Pyrrhonism'" (three books on the practical and
ethical scepticism of Pyrrho of Elis, ca. 360-275 BCE, as developed
later, presenting also a case against the Dogmatists); "'Against
the Dogmatists'" (five books dealing with the Logicians, the
Physicists, and the Ethicists); and "'Against the Professors'" (six
books: Grammarians, Rhetors, Geometers, Arithmeticians,
Astrologers, and Musicians). These two latter works might be called
a general criticism of professors of all arts and sciences.
Sextus's work is a valuable source for the history of thought
especially because of his development and formulation of former
sceptic doctrines.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Sextus Empiricus is in
four volumes.
Sextus Empiricus (ca. 160-210 CE), exponent of scepticism and
critic of the Dogmatists, was a Greek physician and philosopher,
pupil and successor of the medical sceptic Herodotus (not the
historian) of Tarsus. He probably lived for years in Rome and
possibly also in Alexandria and Athens. His three surviving works
are "'Outlines of Pyrrhonism'" (three books on the practical and
ethical scepticism of Pyrrho of Elis, ca. 360-275 BCE, as developed
later, presenting also a case against the Dogmatists); "'Against
the Dogmatists'" (five books dealing with the Logicians, the
Physicists, and the Ethicists); and "'Against the Professors'" (six
books: Grammarians, Rhetors, Geometers, Arithmeticians,
Astrologers, and Musicians). These two latter works might be called
a general criticism of professors of all arts and sciences.
Sextus's work is a valuable source for the history of thought
especially because of his development and formulation of former
sceptic doctrines.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Sextus Empiricus is in
four volumes.
Sextus Empiricus (ca. 160-210 CE), exponent of scepticism and
critic of the Dogmatists, was a Greek physician and philosopher,
pupil and successor of the medical sceptic Herodotus (not the
historian) of Tarsus. He probably lived for years in Rome and
possibly also in Alexandria and Athens. His three surviving works
are "'Outlines of Pyrrhonism'" (three books on the practical and
ethical scepticism of Pyrrho of Elis, ca. 360-275 BCE, as developed
later, presenting also a case against the Dogmatists); "'Against
the Dogmatists'" (five books dealing with the Logicians, the
Physicists, and the Ethicists); and "'Against the Professors'" (six
books: Grammarians, Rhetors, Geometers, Arithmeticians,
Astrologers, and Musicians). These two latter works might be called
a general criticism of professors of all arts and sciences.
Sextus's work is a valuable source for the history of thought
especially because of his development and formulation of former
sceptic doctrines.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Sextus Empiricus is in
four volumes.
Outlines of Scepticism, by the Greek philosopher Sextus Empiricus, is a work of major importance for the history of Greek philosophy. It is the fullest extant account of ancient skepticism, and it is also one of our most copious sources of information about the other Hellenistic philosophies. Its argumentative approach revolutionized the study of philosophy when Sextus' works were rediscovered in the sixteenth century. This volume presents the accurate and readable translation that was first published in 1994, together with a substantial new historical and philosophical introduction by Jonathan Barnes.
This volume contains a translation into clear modern English of an unjustly neglected work by Sextus Empiricus, together with introduction and extensive commentary. Sextus is our main source for the doctrines and arguments of ancient Scepticism; in Against the Ethicists he sets out a distinctive Sceptic position in ethics.
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