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Sextus Empiricus

Sextus Empiricus Quotes

Physician

Sextus Empiricus (160-210 AD) was a renowned Greek physician and philosopher. He is known for his significant contributions to medicine and philosophy, particularly in the field of skepticism. His medical works are still studied today, and his philosophical ideas have had a profound impact on later thinkers.

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All Skepticism Judgment Reason Science Ability Anxiety Appearance Argument Assuming Atoms

Famous Sextus Empiricus Quotes

“Scepticism is an ability, or mental attitude, which opposes appearances to judgments in any way whatsoever, with the result that,owing to the equipollence of the objects and reasons thus opposed we are brought firstly to a state of mental suspense and next to a state of "unperturbedness" or quietude.”

Way States Reason Next Ability Results Attitude Objects Judgment Appearance Suspense Skepticism Mental Attitude Owing Scepticism

Book:Sextus Empiricus

Source: Sextus Empiricus

“Plato, quite decadently, wore an earring while young.”

Young Plato Earrings

Author:Sextus Empiricus

“The skeptic, being a lover of his kind, desires to cure by speech, as best he can, the self-conceit and rashness of the dogmatists.”

Kind Self Desire Lovers Speech Cures Conceit Skeptic Rashness

Book:Sextus Empiricus

Source: Sextus Empiricus

“By skepticism . . . we arrive first at suspension of judgment, and second at freedom from disturbance.”

Firsts Science Judgment Skepticism Disturbance Suspension

Author:Sextus Empiricus

“Skepticism relieved two terrible diseases that afflicted mankind: anxiety and dogmatism.”

Two Mankind Terrible Disease Anxiety Skepticism Relieved Dogmatism

Author:Sextus Empiricus

“To every argument an equal argument is opposed.”

Book:Selections from the Major Writings on Scepticism, Man, & God

Source: Selections from the Major Writings on Scepticism, Man, & God

“Democritus sometimes does away with what appears to the senses, and says that none of these appears according to truth but only according to opinion: the truth in real things is that there are atoms and void. 'By convention sweet', he says, 'by convention bitter, by convention hot, by convention cold, by convention colour: but in reality atoms and void.'”

Doe Real Sometimes Reality Science Opinion Sweet Cold Hot Senses Bitter Colour Atoms Conventions Void Real Things

Author:Sextus Empiricus

“The Mode of circular reasoning is the form used when the proof itself which ought to establish the matter of inquiry requires confirmation derived from the matter; in this case, being unable to assume either in order to establish the other, we suspend judgement about both.”

Matter Reason Form Used Order Cases Ought Assuming Proof Judgement Reasoning Inquiry Confirmation

Book:Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of Pyrrhonism

Source: Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of Pyrrhonism

About the Author

Born: 160
Died: 210
Known for: Physician
Quotes: 8

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Skepticism Judgment Reason Science Ability Anxiety Appearance Argument Assuming Atoms

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Books & Sources

Sextus EmpiricusRelated source material

Selections from the Major Writings on Scepticism, Man, & GodRelated source material

Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of PyrrhonismRelated source material

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