Can we ever truly know anything, or are we just guessing?
In short: In the 3rd century BCE, Plato's Academy underwent a radical transformation. Instead of seeking absolute truths, a new group of thinkers began questioning whether the human mind is even capable of grasping reality. This wasn't just doubt for doubt's sake; it was a sophisticated challenge to the very foundations of certainty.
Academic skepticism emerged in the 3rd century BCE when Arcesilaus, a philosopher active around 315–240 BCE, took leadership of Plato's Academy. Unlike the Pyrrhonists, who sought mental imperturbability by suspending all judgment, the Academics focused their energy on attacking the dogmas of other schools, most notably the Stoics. They specifically targeted the Stoic belief that certain impressions could lead to undeniable knowledge. The movement's lineage can be traced back to figures like Xenophanes and Democritus. This era of the school is often referred to as the New Academy.
The core of the Academic position was not a denial of truth's existence, but a doubt regarding human capacity. They argued that while absolute certainty might be unattainable, humans could still rely on degrees of plausibility or reasonable standards to guide action. This allowed for a practical, moderate way of living based on what is probable, rather than what is indubitably true. This distinction between the two schools was famously noted by the historian Aulus Gellius. He observed that while Academics believed nothing could be determined, Pyrrhonists refused to even assert that such a claim seemed true.
This skeptical period of the Academy lasted until approximately 90 BCE, when Antiochus of Ascalon rejected these skeptical tenets. The movement's influence stretched far beyond antiquity; the rediscovery of these ancient texts helped fuel debates during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, as thinkers once again questioned the foundations of religious knowledge. Today, the legacy of such questioning persists in modern debates regarding the objectivity of science and societal frameworks. The influential philosopher Carneades and Philo of Larissa were also prominent members of this tradition. Later, the philosopher Aenesidemus eventually broke away from the Academy to embrace Pyrrhonism.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Academic Skepticism | philosophy | Britannica
- Also: Academic skepticism
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-academic-skepticism.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Epistemology · More in Ideas & Philosophy · Latest · A–Z · All topics
