Ancient philosophy knew two main skeptical traditions: the Pyrrhonian and the Academic. In this final paper of the three‐part series devoted to ancient skepticism, I present some of the topics about Academic skepticism which have recently been much debated in the specialist literature. I will be concerned with the outlooks of Arcesilaus, Carneades, and Philo of Larissa.

The book includes 13 contributions that deal with the first attempts of opposition to the of Aristotle's thought. From Theophrastus to Epicurus, and to Plotinus. The best specialists have collaborated (among others: M. Mignucci, E. Berti, K. Ierodiakonou, C. Natali, S. Maso, F. Ferrari, D. Taormina, A. Falcon, A. Schiaparelli).

This paper offers some clarifications about the meaning of the formula “οὐ μᾶλλον” as it is presented in one of the most controversial passages of Aristocle’s On Philosophy, where he discusses with the Pyrrhonians. My thesis is that the formula “οὐ μᾶλλον” has practical and therapeutical functions insofar as it plays the role of a purgative drug against “predication” rather than being an epistemological or metaphysical claim. In this sense, it is a philosophical tool against the vanities of dogmatism. To (...) reach this conclusion, I will analyze the passage and the possible roots of this formula in the Socratic tradition. (shrink)

This paper presents the main features that Sextus Empiricus draws from those he designates as his predecessors and, at the same time, explains how this reading influences his own skeptical ideal. Specifically, we will point out the main characteristics of the way that Pyrrho and Timon are portrayed in the Sextan writings. We consider that a study of these figures in the Sextan corpus will result in a better understanding of the philosopher’s own skeptical ideal. In this way, our main (...) objective will be to show that Sextus uses different argumentative strategies to model much of his own skeptical stance. At the same time, we intend to claim Sextus as an authentic writer, since he has often been called a copyist without originality when he performs exegesis of this type on the aforementioned figures. (shrink)