Five Modes of Scepticism: Sextus Empiricus and the Agrippan Modes

by Stefan Sienkiewicz

Overview

Five Modes of Scepticism examines the argument forms that lie at the heart of Pyrrhonian scepticism as expressed in the writings of Sextus Empiricus. These are the Agrippan modes of disagreement, hypothesis, infinite regression, reciprocity and relativity; modes which are supposed to bring about that quintessentially sceptical mental state of suspended judgement. Stefan Sienkiewicz analyses how the modes are supposed to do this, both individually and collectively, and from two perspectives. On the one hand there is the perspective of the sceptic's dogmatic opponent and on the other there is the perspective of the sceptic himself. Epistemically speaking, the dogmatist and the sceptic are two different creatures with two different viewpoints. The book elucidates the corresponding differences in the argumentative structure of the modes depending on which of these perspectives is adopted. Previous treatments of the modes have interpreted them from a dogmatic perspective; one of the tasks of the present work is to reorient the way in which scholars have traditionally engaged with the modes. Sienkiewicz advocates moving away from the perspective of the sceptic's opponent - the dogmatist - towards the perspective of the sceptic and trying to make sense of how the sceptic can come to suspend judgement on the basis of the Agrippan modes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198798361
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/28/2019
Series:	Oxford Philosophical Monographs
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Stefan Sienkiewicz, Fellow in Ancient Philosophy, Balliol College, Oxford

Stefan Sienkiewicz read Literae Humaniores at Christ Church, Oxford, where he also took an MSt in Ancient Philosophy. He holds a DPhil in Philosophy from Oriel College, Oxford. Since 2014 he has been Career Development Fellow in Ancient Philosophy at Balliol College, Oxford, having previously worked as a college lecturer both at Christ Church and at Oriel.

Table of Contents

Introduction1. The Mode of Disagreement2. The Mode of Hypothesis3. The Mode of Infinite Regression4. The Mode of Reciprocity5. The Mode of Relativity6. The Modes Combined

Editorial Reviews

"This book has much to commend it: Sextus's text is clearly explained, distinctions are carefully drawn, the prose is clear, and attention is paid to philological and philosophical issues ... Sienkiewicz makes a valuable contribution to the literature" — Justin Vlasits, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Journal of the History of Philosophy

"highly original" — Richard Bett, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

From the Publisher