Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism by Mary Mills Patrick
page 42 of 196 (21%)
page 42 of 196 (21%)
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are far more closely connected with the general development of
Scepticism, than the later ones. By the name [Greek: tropos] or Trope, the Sceptic understood a manner of thought, or form of argument, or standpoint of judgement. It was a term common in Greek philosophy, used in this sense, from the time of Aristotle.[1] The Stoics, however, used the word with a different meaning from that attributed to it by the Sceptics.[2] Stephanus and Fabricius translate it by the Latin word _modus_[3] and [Greek: tropos] also is often used interchangeably with the word [Greek: logos] by Sextus, Diogenes Laertius, and others; sometimes also as synonymous with [Greek: topos],[4] and [Greek: typos] is found in the oldest edition of Sextus.[5] Diogenes defines the word as the standpoint, or manner of argument, by which the Sceptics arrived at the condition of doubt, in consequence of the equality of probabilities, and he calls the Tropes, the ten Tropes of doubt.[6] All writers on Pyrrhonism after the time of Aenesidemus give the Tropes the principal place in their treatment of the subject. Sextus occupies two thirds of the first book of the _Hypotyposes_ in stating and discussing them; and about one fourth of his presentation of Scepticism is devoted to the Tropes by Diogenes. In addition to these two authors, Aristocles the Peripatetic refers to them in his attack on Scepticism.[7] Favorinus wrote a book entitled _Pyrrhonean Tropes_, and Plutarch one called _The Ten ([Greek: topoi]) Topes of Pyrrho_.[8] Both of these latter works are lost. [1] Pappenheim _Erlauterung Pyrrh. Grundzugen_, p. 35. [2] Diog I. 76; _Adv. Math._ VIII. 227. |
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