Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.26362/20250201
Sextus on Academic Philosophy: Neither Dogmatism nor Pyrrhonism
Plínio Junqueira Smith
; Federal University of São Paulo, Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas
Abstract
This paper criticizes the interpretation that Sextus considered Academic philosophy as a form of dogmatism, either negative or positive. First, it offers an interpretation of Academic philosophy as a third main kind of philosophy distinct from dogmatism. Next, it examines what Sextus says concerning each major Academic: Arcesilaus, Carneades, and Clitomachus. Finally, it holds that Academic philosophy is the closest philosophical neighbor to skepticism by developing a new interpretation of the final part of the Outlines. In each case, it is shown that, for
Sextus, both Pyrrhonism and Academic philosophy are non-dogmatic, and that they differ in their specific ways of being non-dogmatic. The main thesis of this paper is that Academic philosophy is closer to skepticism than to dogmatism.
Keywords
Academic philosophy; Carneades; Clitomachus; dogmatism; Pyrrhonian skepticism; Sextus Empiricus; suspension of judgment
Hrčak ID:
340097
URI
Publication date:
27.11.2025.
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