Arcesilaus 316 BC – 241 BC
Arcesilaus of Pitane was a Greek philosopher and the founder of the New, or skeptical, Academy. As head of Plato's school he turned its dialectical method against the dogmatic certainty defended by the Stoics, refusing to assert any positive doctrine of his own. He developed the practice of arguing both sides of every question and the doctrine of suspension of judgment, replacing Stoic kataleptic certainty with what he called the reasonable, to eulogon, as the guide for action. He left no writings; his views are preserved in the reports of Cicero, Sextus Empiricus, and Diogenes Laertius.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Greek
- Era
- Ancient
- Movements
- Skepticism, Platonism, Hellenistic
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Arcesilaus:
“Suspension of judgment is the only response of the wise to the conflict of appearances.”
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Attributed to Arcesilaus:
“The wise man does not assent to anything as certain.”
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Attributed to Arcesilaus:
“What is reasonable, not what is certain, guides the conduct of the wise.”
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Attributed to Arcesilaus:
“On every question two opposite arguments can be advanced with equal force.”
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Attributed to Arcesilaus:
“Nothing is more shameful than that assent and approval should outrun knowledge.”