CHAPTER IV.

_What is Scepticism?_

The [Greek: dynamis] of the Sceptical School is to place the 8

phenomenal in opposition to the intellectual "in any way

whatever," and thus through the equilibrium of the reasons and

things ([Greek: isostheneia tôn logôn]) opposed to each other,

to reach, first the state of suspension of judgment, [Greek:

epochê] and afterwards that of imperturbability, [Greek:

ataraxia]. We do not use the word [Greek: dynamis] in any 9

unusual sense, but simply, meaning the force of the system. By

the phenomenal, we understand the sensible, hence we place the

intellectual in opposition to it. The phrase "in any way

whatever," may refer to the word [Greek: dynamis] in order that

we may understand that word in a simple sense as we said, or it

may refer to the placing the phenomenal and intellectual in

opposition. For we place these in opposition to each other in a

variety of ways, the phenomenal to the phenomenal, and the

intellectual to the intellectual, or reciprocally, and we say

"in any way whatever," in order that all methods of opposition

may be included. Or "in any way whatever" may refer to the

phenomenal and the intellectual, so that we need not ask how

does the phenomenal appear, or how are the thoughts conceived,

but that we may understand these things in a simple sense. By

"reasons opposed to each other," we do not by any means 10

understand that they deny or affirm anything, but simply that

they offset each other. By equilibrium, we mean equality in

regard to trustworthiness and untrustworthiness, so that of the

reasons that are placed in opposition to each other, one should

not excel another in trustworthiness. [Greek: epochê] is a

holding back of the opinion, in consequence of which we neither

deny nor affirm anything. [Greek: ataraxia] is repose and

tranquillity of soul. We shall explain how [Greek: ataraxia]

accompanies [Greek: epochê] when we speak of the aim.

Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism · 第 4 / 34 章