Outlines of Pyrrhonism (1.4.9-1.6.12)

Now we call it an ‟ability” not in any subtle sense, but simply in respect of its ‟being able.” By ‟appearances” we now mean the objects of sense- perception, whence we contrast them with the objects of thought or ‟judgements.” The phrase ‟in any way whatsoever” can be connected either with the word ‟ability,” to make us take the word ‟ability,” as we said, in its simple sense, or with the phrase ‟opposing appearances to judgements;” for inasmuch as we oppose these in a variety of ways—appearances to appearances, or judgements to judgements, or /alternando/ appearances to judgements,—in order to ensure the inclusion of all these antitheses we employ the phrase ‟in any way whatsoever.” Or, again, we join ‟in any way whatsoever” to ‟appearances and judgements” in order that we may not have to inquire how the appearances appear or how the thought-objects are judged, but may take these terms in the simple sense.

The phrase ‟opposed judgements” we do not employ in the sense of negations and affirmations only but simply as equivalent to ‟conflicting judgements.” [*] ‟Equipollence” we use of equality in respect of probability and improbability, to indicate that no one of the conflicting judgements takes precedence of any other as being more probable. ‟Suspense” is a state of mental rest owing to which we neither deny nor affirm anything. ‟Quietude” is an untroubled and tranquil condition of soul. And how quietude enters the soul along with suspension of judgement we shall explain in our chapter (XII.) ‟Concerning the End.”

In the definition of the Sceptic system there is also implicitly included that of the Pyrrhonean philosopher: he is the man who participates in this ‟ability.”

The originating cause of Scepticism is, we say, the hope of attaining quietude. Men of talent, who were perturbed by the contradictions in things and in doubt as to which of the alternatives they ought to accept, were led on to inquire what is true in things and what false, hoping by the settlement of this question to attain quietude. The main basic principle of the Sceptic system is that of opposing to every proposition an equal proposition; for we believe that as a consequence of this we end by ceasing to dogmatize.