Pyrrhonism in Ancient, Modern, and Contemporary Philosophy (The New Synthese Historical Library: Texts and Studies in the History of Philosophy, Vol. 70)

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in Pyrrhonism among both philosophers and historians of philosophy. This skeptical tradition is complex and multifaceted, since the Pyrrhonian arguments have been put into the service of different enterprises or been approached in relation to interests which are quite distinct. The diversity of conceptions and uses of Pyrrhonism accounts for the diversity of the challenges it is deemed to pose and of the attempts to meet them. The present volume brings together twelve essays by leading specialists which explore the history and philosophical significance of this form of skepticism: they discuss some thorny questions concerning ancient Pyrrhonism, explore its influence on certain modern thinkers, and examine it in relation to contemporary analytic philosophy. The essays combine historical and exegetical analysis with an assessment of the philosophical merits of the Pyrrhonian outlook, with the aim of understanding it both in its historical context and in connection with contemporary concerns. This volume, the first entirely devoted to a detailed study of the Pyrrhonian tradition, is intended to open up new exegetical and philosophical perspectives on Pyrrhonism and to motivate further examination of certain difficult issues. It will be a valuable resource for scholars of ancient philosophy, historians of modern philosophy, and epistemologists, as well as for graduate students interested in skepticism. This Volume Presents Essays By Leading Specialists That Explore The History And Philosophical Significance Of This Form Of Pyrrhonism. The Text Debates Thorny Questions Concerning Ancient Pyrrhonism, Explores Its Influence On Certain Modern Thinkers, And Examines It In Relation To Contemporary Analytic Philosophy. Pt. 1. Ancient Pyrrhonism. How Ethical An An Ancient Skeptic Be? / Richard Bett -- Two Kinds Of Tranquility: Sextus Empiricus On Ataraxia / Svavar Hrafn Svavarsson -- The Aims Of Skeptical Investigation / Katja Maria Vogt -- Pyrrhonism And The Law Of Non-contradiction / Diego E. Machuca -- Epistemic Justification And The Limits Of Pyrrhonism / Peter D. Klein -- Pt. 2. Pyrrhonism In Modern Philosophy. Bacon's Doctrine Of The Idols And Skepticism / Luiz Eva -- Skepticism Against Reason In Pierre Bayle's Theory Of Toleration / John Christian Laursen -- Skepticism And The Possibility Of Nature / Peter S. Fosl -- Hume On Skeptical Arguments / Plíno Junqueira Smith -- Pt. 3. Pyrrhonism In Contemporary Philosophy. Wittgensteinian Pyrrhonism / Duncan Pritchard -- Skepticisim And Disagreement / Markus Lammenranta -- Can Contemporary Semantics Hel The Pyrrhonian Get A Life? / Juan Comesaña. Diego E. Machuca, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. This is the first collection of original essays entirely devoted to a detailed study of the Pyrrhonian tradition. The twelve contributions collected in the present volume combine to offer a historical and systematic analysis of the form of skepticism known as "Pyrrhonism". They discuss whether the Pyrrhonist is an ethically engaged agent, whether he can claim to search for truth, and other thorny questions concerning ancient Pyrrhonism; explore its influence on certain modern thinkers such as Pierre Bayle and David Hume; and, examine Pyrrhonian skepticism in relation to contemporary analytic philosophy. Read more... Abstract: This is the first collection of original essays entirely devoted to a detailed study of the Pyrrhonian tradition. The twelve contributions collected in the present volume combine to offer a historical and systematic analysis of the form of skepticism known as "Pyrrhonism". They discuss whether the Pyrrhonist is an ethically engaged agent, whether he can claim to search for truth, and other thorny questions concerning ancient Pyrrhonism; explore its influence on certain modern thinkers such as Pierre Bayle and David Hume; and, examine Pyrrhonian skepticism in relation to contemporary analytic philosophy Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 How Ethical Can an Ancient Skeptic Be?....Pages 3-17 Two Kinds of Tranquility: Sextus Empiricus on Ataraxia ....Pages 19-31 The Aims of Skeptical Investigation....Pages 33-49 Pyrrhonism and the Law of Non-Contradiction....Pages 51-77 Epistemic Justification and the Limits of Pyrrhonism....Pages 79-96 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 Bacon’s Doctrine of the Idols and Skepticism....Pages 99-129 Skepticism against Reason in Pierre Bayle’s Theory of Toleration....Pages 131-144 Skepticism and the Possibility of Nature....Pages 145-169 Hume on Skeptical Arguments....Pages 171-189 Front Matter....Pages 191-191 Wittgensteinian Pyrrhonism....Pages 193-202 Skepticism and Disagreement....Pages 203-215 Can Contemporary Semantics Help the Pyrrhonian Get a Life?....Pages 217-240 Back Matter....Pages 241-246