Philosophy Atlas

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Philosophers

Pyrrho of Elis

PEER-oh of EE-lis

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An ancient Greek philosopher who left no writings of his own; his teaching survives chiefly through his student Timon of Phlius and its later systematic form in Sextus Empiricus. He accompanied Alexander the Great's campaign into India, reportedly encountering ascetic sages there, and held that since things are equally indifferent, unmeasurable and inarbitrable, the wise response is to suspend judgment, which brings the tranquility that dogmatic certainty cannot.

Facts
Disputed
Birth Year
360 BCE 1
Ancient chronology for Pyrrho is approximate; c. 365 to c. 360 BCE are both cited in modern scholarship.
Death Year
270 BCE 1
c. 275 to c. 270 BCE are both cited.
Tradition
Ancient Greek philosophy, Pyrrhonism 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

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In Branch

Sources
1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Stanford University, Center for the Study of Language and Informations.v. Ancient Skepticism
Quote, s.v. Ancient Skepticism
Not all ancient philosophers whom in retrospect we call “skeptics” refer to themselves as such.
View the Source
1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Stanford University, Center for the Study of Language and InformationAssociated With: PyrrhonismView the Source
1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Stanford University, Center for the Study of Language and InformationIn Branch: EpistemologyView the Source
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