Pyrrho, his antecedents, and his legacy / Richard Bett.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bett, Richard Arnot Home, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pyrrhon, of Elis.

Pyrrhon.

Pyrrhon, of Elis--Influence.

Skepticism.

Skeptics (Greek philosophy).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 264 pages)

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2000.

Summary:

In the absence of surviving works by Pyrrho, scholars have tended to treat his thought as essentially the same as the long subsequent sceptical tradition. This text offers a different interpretation of his thought.

"Richard Bett presents a study of Pyrrho of Elis, who lived in the late fourth and early third centuries BC and is the supposed originator of Greek scepticism. In the absence of surviving works by Pyrrho scholars have tended to treat his thought as essentially the same as the long subsequent sceptical tradition which styled itself Pyrrhonism. Bett argues, on the contrary, that Pyrrhos' philosophy was significantly different from this later tradition, and offers a new and detailed account of that philosophy in this light. Bett considers why Pyrrho was adopted as the figurehead for that tradition: his answer suggests that we should distinguish two phases within Pyrrhonism, of which the initial phase is much closer to Pyrrho's own thought than is the better-known later phase. Bett also investigates the origins and antecedents of Pyrrho's ideas. In particular, Plato is singled out as an important inspiration. The result is the first comprehensive picture of this key figure in the development of philosophy. The new claims that Bett puts forward have major implications for the history and interpretation of ancient Greek thought."--Jacket.

Contents:

1. Pyrrho the Non-Sceptic. 1. The Aristocles passage and its importance. 2. The nature of things. 3. How we should be disposed towards things. 4. The results for those who are so disposed. 5. Contrasts with later Pyrrhonism, and an alleged conflict with Aristocles. 6. Other evidence (1): echoes or confusions? 7. Other evidence (2): the inconclusive and the anachronistic. 8. Pyrrho as pragmatist? App. On the meaning of aletheuein and pseudesthai

2. Putting it into Practice. 1. Pyrrho's behaviour: a first look at the biographical material. 2. Pyrrho's practical attitudes: the anecdotes and the fragments of Timon. 3. Connections with the Aristocles passage. 4. Deciding what to do: the role of appearances.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version

ISBN:

0-19-169832-6

0-19-925661-6