CHAPTER XXIV.

_The Formula "Every thing is Undetermined."_

The expression "Indetermination" furthermore shows a state 198

of mind in which we neither deny nor affirm positively anything

regarding things that are investigated in a dogmatic way, that

is the things that are unknown. When then the Sceptic says

"Every thing is undetermined," he uses "is undetermined," in the

sense of "it appears undetermined to him." The words "every

thing" do not mean all existences, but those that he has

examined of the unknown things that are investigated by the

Dogmatists. By "undetermined," he means that there is no

preference in the things that are placed in opposition to each

other, or that they simply conflict with each other in respect

to trustworthiness or untrustworthiness. And as the one who 199

says "I am walking" really means "It is I that am walking," so

he who says "Every thing is undetermined" means at the same

time, according to our teachings, "as far as I am concerned," or

"as it appears to me," as if he were saying "As far as I have

examined the things that are under investigation in a dogmatic

manner, it appears to me that no one of them excels the one

which conflicts with it in trustworthiness or

untrustworthiness."

Sextus Empiricus and Greek Scepticism · 第 24 / 34 章