The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Scepticism
The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Scepticism
This volume offers a comprehensive survey of the main periods, schools, and individual proponents of scepticism in the ancient Greek and Roman world. The contributors examine the major developments chronologically and historically, ranging from the early antecedents of scepticism to the Pyrrhonist tradition. They address the central philosophical and interpretive problems surrounding the sceptics' ideas on subjects including belief, action, and ethics. Finally, they explore the effects which these forms of scepticism had beyond the ancient period, and the ways in which ancient scepticism differs from scepticism as it has been understood since Descartes. The volume will serve as an accessible and wide-ranging introduction to the subject for non-specialists, while also offering considerable depth and detail for more advanced readers.
- Good introductory text as no prior knowledge of the subject is required
- Clear organisation by historical period and by topic, providing the reader with concise contextual information
- A comprehensive treatment of the field, providing readers with a good rounded sense of the subject and how it is viewed in contemporary scholarship
Reviews & endorsements
'This anthology is very helpful to all those (specialists and students) who want to have a closer look at the origin of scepticism as well as the disputes that surrounded it in the Ancient period.' Science et Esprit
Product details
January 2010Paperback
9780521697545
392 pages
227 × 152 × 18 mm
0.62kg
1 table
Available
Table of Contents
- Abbreviations
- Introduction, Richard Bett
- Part I. Origins and Development:
- 1. Antecedents in early Greek philosophy Mi-Kyoung Lee
- 2. Pyrrho and early Pyrrhonism Svavar Hrafn Svavarsson
- 3. Arcesilaus and Carneades Harald Thorsrud
- 4. The sceptical academy: decline and afterline Carlos Lévy
- 5. Aenesidemus and the rebirth of Pyrrhonism James Hankinson
- 6. Sextus Empiricus Pierre Pellegrin
- Part II. Topics and Problems:
- 7. Scepticism and belief Casey Perin
- 8. Scepticism and action Katja Maria Vogt
- 9. Scepticism and ethics Richard Bett
- 10. Academics versus Pyrrhonists, reconsidered Gisela Striker
- 11. The Pyrrhonian modes Paul Woodruff
- 12. Pyrrhonism and medicine James Allen
- 13. Pyrrhonism and the specialized sciences Emidio Spinelli
- Part III. Beyond Antiquity:
- 14. The rediscovery and posthumous influence of scepticism Luciano Floridi
- 15. Descartes' transformation of the sceptical tradition Michael Williams
- Bibliography.
