The Court of the Gentiles Part 2, Book 4 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. Of Scepticiſme.
I. Of the Scepticks, their ſeveral names. II. Pyrr…o his Character and chief Dogme, that nothing was knowable. III. The formal Idea of Scepticiſme. IIII. The main deſigne of Scepticks to overthrow the Dogmes of other Sects. V. Scepticks denyed any thing to be just, or unjuſt. VI. The original of this Sceptick foreign, from Heraclitus's, and Plato's Schole. VII. Plato, and the old Academicks not Sceptick, but Dogmatick. VIII. Wherein the New Academicks differed from the Scepticks. IX. The Scepticks avoided all manner of Dogmatizing. X. Scepticiſme a great enemie to the Chriſtian Religion. XI. How far 'tis commendable, and uſeful.
§. 1. NExt to the Stoicks we ſhall mention the Scepticks, Of the Scepticks their ſeveral names.who were alſo ſtiled Pyrrhonians from Pyrrho their chief Coryphaeus. Laertius in Pyrrho informes us, that they were called foreign, Scepticks, becauſe they alwaies foreign conſider a matter, but never determine any thing: foreign, Aporeticks, becauſe they always foreign doubt. foreign, Ephecticks, becauſe, after all their long, and tedious inquiſitions, there follows no aſſent, but foreign, an heſitation, and ſuſpenſion of judgement, or retention of aſſent. Laſtly they were ſtiled foreign, Zeteticks, becauſe they were ever ſeeking, but never ſound the truth.
§. 2. The Head of this Sect was Pyrrho, who flouriſhed in the time of Theophraſtus, and Epicurus, about the 109. Olympiad;Of Pyrrho, his Character. for he heard Dryſo the Son of Stilp…, and Anaxarchus the Abderite; whom alſo he accompanied into India, in the Expedition of Alexander the Great, yea was preſent, when the Indian upbraided Anaxarchus, that he followed the Court of Kings, but taught no one Virtue: As Laertius in Anaxarchus: who alſo brings in Aſcanius affirming of Pyrrho, that he ſeemed to have ſound out a noble way of Philoſophizing by introducing foreign, incomprehenſion, and foreign ſuſpenſion:his chief Dogme that nothing could be known. for he aſſerted nothing: and truely (addes Laertius) Pyrrho's life was agreeable to his opinions; for he ſhunned nothing, nor took any heed to his waies. We find the like mention of Pyrrho, and his incomprehenſion in Ammonius (Comment. in Ariſt. Categ. pag. 9. foreign ſaith he) foreign. Pyrrho the chieftain of this Sect ſaid, that Beings had an incomprehenſion, &c.
The formal Idea of Scepticiſme.§. 3. Hence the foreign, or chief Dogme of the Scepticks is, that nothing could be known, and therefore nothing might be affirmed, or denyed. So Anaxarchus Pyrrho's maſter held foreign neither did he know this, that he knew nothing. So Zenophanes ſaid that, no one certainly knew any thing: foreign for truth lieth in an abyſſe. Whence Sextus Empiricus cap. 4. dennes Scepticiſme a facultie oppoſing Phaenomena's or apparences, and intelligibles all manner of waies, whereby we proceed through the equivalence of contrarie things, and ſpeeches, firſt to foreign ſuſpenſion, then to indiſturbance. Thence thoſe expreſſions of the ſame Sextus Empiricus, foreign not more this, than that: agen foreign Every reaſon has a reaſon equal oppoſed thereto; alſo foreign I define nothing: Laſtly foreign I perſevere a Sceptick, or conſidering, &c.
§. 4. Whence the Scepticks made it their main buſineſſe, to overthrow all the Dogmes of the other Dogmatick Sects, not by affirming, The Scepticks made it their buſineſſe to overthrow the Dogmes of other Sects.or defining any thing; but by producing the opinions of all other Sects, and ſhewing their invaliditie or weakneſſe. They inſtanced (ſaith Laertius) in ten waies, by which things became doubtful to us: as from the difference 1. of Animals, 2. of men 3. of Senſes 4. of Affections, and their viciſſitudes 5. of Educations, Inſtitutions, Laws, and Cuſtomes, &c. Thence they denyed, that there were any foreign common principles known of themſelves, or foreign comprehenſions; and ſo all Demonſtration was by them taken away; concluding foreign that the whole is indemonſtrable. They alſo denyed, that there were any infallible ſignes, &c. This their foreign they termed alſo foreign, becauſe their opinion held in bivio, without encl…ning to this, or that part: They named it alſo foreign, becauſe there was nothing affirmed, or denyed: for they durſt not affirme that they were borne, or ſo much as that they were men.
§. 5. Yea the Sceptick foreign, or ſuſpenſion reach'd ſo far,The Sceptick Suſpenſion reached even to the denying any thing to be juſt, or unjuſt, or that ſenſe was to be credited. as that they aſſerted nothing to be Good, or Evil; just, or unjuſt; but that men paſſed their judgement according to the inſtitution of Laws, and Custome; not that one thing was in it ſelf more juſt, or unjuſt than another. Yea at laſt they came to affect an foreign, that the very ſenſes were not to be credited. So Anaxarchus being carried againſt his will to Cyprus, where he was thrown into an hollow rock, and command given, that he ſhould be beaten with iron hammers; he ſeeming not to regard his pain ſaid foreign beat Anaxarchus's Veſſel, but Anaxarchus himſelf thou canſt not break. Laſtly we find the whole myſterie of this Sceptick Heſitation well expreſſed by Ariſtocles in Euſebius Praepar. Evang. lib. 14. foreign. Things are equally indifferent, and uncertain, and undeterminable; wherefore neither can our ſenſes, or opinions ſpeak truth, or falſhood; wherefore neither ought we to believe them, but leave them void of opination, and without inclination, or motion; declaring concerning every thing, that it neither is, nor is not; alſo that it is, that it is not, neither is it not.
§. 6.The original of this Sceptick Suſpenſion from Heraclitus and Plato's Schole. As for the Original of this Sceptick foreign incomprehenſion, it ſeems to be more ancient than Pyrrho, or Anaxarchus; for Heraclitus laid a great foundation for it, by aſſerting all things to be in m…tion, and nothing certain: So Ammonius (in Ari…t. Categ. fol. 9 reckons Heraclitus among theſe Pyrrhonians becauſe foreign Heraclitus ſaid, that all things were in motion and fluxe, wherefore they are called Ephecticks from foreign, ſuſpending their judgement of things. Yea this Sceptick foreign ſuſpenſion had a conſiderable room, and foundation in Plato's Schole, the old Academie, wherein there was allowed foreign a Problematick kind of diſputation pro, and con, for, and againſt the queſtion, with an foreign, or libertie of ſuſpending their judgements as to concluſions, about things dubious. For the old Academicks held two ſorts of things ſome certain, and unquestionable, others doubtful, which might be affirmed, or denyed: As for things certain they held foreign ſome things are alwaies the ſame, without generation, whence they concluded, ſuch things were foreign, truely knowable and certain: in which rank of things they placed our notions of God; of the Soul; of happineſſe; of the other life, &c. concerning theſe things Plato (and the old Academicks) allowed not any foreign, problematick diſputation, or foreign, ſuſpenſion; but he laies them down as certain, and indubitable, or proves them to be ſuch foreign, from indubitable principles indubitably. But Plato laies down ſome ſenſibles, which are only Probable, or dubious; and of theſe he diſcourſeth more freely, allowing an foreign Suſpenſion of judgement concerning them; whence his difference foreign, of a Probable and demonstrative character. From this foreign in Plato's Old Academie ſprang the New Academick foreign, or ſuſpenſion of judgement, which differs little from the Sceptick foreign, or ſuſpenſion.
Plato and the old Academie not Sceptick but Dogmatick.§. 7. Albeit Plato, by his foreign Probationarie diſputes pro, and con, about ſenſibles, laid a conſiderable foundation for the Sceptick foreign, yet he ſeems profeſſedly to diſpute againſt this Sceptick Incomprehenſion, or ſuſpenſion; diſcovering himſelf to be rather Dogmatick, than Sceptick. Laertius tels us, that it was much controverted whether Plato doth Dogmatize, or not? and he ſeems to conclude the queſtion in the affirmative, that Plato did Dogmatize; becauſe he expounds thoſe things, which he conceived true, and confuted thoſe things which were falſe; though he ſuſpended his judgement in things doubtful. So Sextus Empiricus c. 31. Some (ſaith he) hold Plato to be Dogmatick, others Sceptick, others, that he was in ſome things Sceptick, in ſome things Dogmatick: for in his Gymna…tick Diſcourſes, where Socrates is brought in diſputing with the Sophists, they ſay, he hath a Gymna…tick, or Sceptick Character: but when he declareth his own opinion, he is Dogmatick. But Ammonius (in Ariſt. Categ. pag. 9.) gives us a more full account of Plato's judgement againſt this foreign incomprehenſion. foreign. Plato in many diſcourſes confuting this opinion (about incomprehenſion) after many things addes this alſo to them. When, Sirs, ye ſay there is an incomprehenſion, ye comprehend there is an incomprehenſion, or not? if ye comprehend it, there is then a comprehenſion: if ye comprehend it not, we have no reaſon to beleive you, becauſe you comprehend not, that there is an incomprehenſion. By which argument Plato efficaciouſly overthrew the Sceptick incomprehenſion.
§. 8. But the…e ſeems to be a greater affinity betwixt the New Academicks, and the Scepticks in ſo much,The New Academicks differ from the Scepticks, and wherein. that they are often taken for one and the ſame Sect. So Seneca Epiſt. 88. The Pyrrhonians, and Megaricks, and Eretriacks, and Academicks, who introduced a new Science, namely that nothing could be known, are verſt almoſt in the ſame things. So Suidas in foreign. But Sextus Empiricus cap. 31. gives this difference 'twixt the Sceptick, and New Academick foreign, or foreign. Thoſe (ſaith he) of the New Academie, though they ſay all things are incomprehenſible, differ from the Scepticks perhaps in ſaying all things are incomprehenſible: for they aſſert this; but the Sceptick admits it poſſible that they may be comprehended, &c. Again (addes Sextus) we differ alſo from the New Academie, as to what belongs to the End: for they uſe in the courſe of life what is credible; we following Laws, Customes, and natural affections, live without engaging our opinion. Laſtly Sextus ſeems to obſerve this difference, that the New Academicks, Arceſilas with others, affirmed foreign, ſuſpenſion to be Good, but Aſſent to be Evil, and that according to Nature: But Pyrrho judged theſe things to be ſo, foreign, not according to nature, but apparence. By all which it appears, that the Academicks held this common firſt principle, that all things are incomprehenſible, might be comprehended: wherefore they accordingly determined, that nothing could be determined. But the Scepticks durſt not affirm, or denie any thing, not ſo much as their own firſt Principle, viz. that all things were incomprehenſible.
§. 9. By which it appears,The Scepticks avoided all manner of Dogmatizing. that the Scepticks avoided all manner of Dogmatizing, as well that of the New, as that of the old Academie, and of all other Sects. So Sextus Empiricus Chap. 6. We ſay the Sceptick doth not Dogmatize: not underſtanding Dogme, as ſome do, in the general acceptation, for an aſſent to any thing; for the Sceptick aſſents to thoſe affections, or impreſſions which are neceſſarily induced by fancie, or ſenſe; but we ſay he doth not Dogmatize in their ſenſe, who takes a Dogme for an aſſent to any of thoſe inevident things, which are inquired into by Sciences. For a Sceptick Philoſopher aſſents to nothing, that is not Evident; neither doth he Dogmatize, when he pronounceth the Sceptick Phraſes concerning things not manifeſt; as I aſſert nothing, &c. Thus Sextus Empiricus, who treats more fully of Scepticiſme in his books againſt the Mathematicians, &c.
Scepticiſme a great Enemie to the Chriſtian Religion.§. 10. This Sect of Scepticks is very contradictorie to the Chriſtian Religion as it appears by the confeſſion of Nicetas In Epitom. Clement. Roman. foreign we have accurately inquired into thoſe things, which are delivered by the Philoſophers; Eſpecially thoſe things, which are greatly repugnant to Piety towards God: namely the Dogmes of Epicurus, and Pyrrho, that ſo we might be the better able to refute them. And indeed Scepticiſme is but a door to Atheiſme: for by queſtioning every thing men at laſt come to believe nothing, though moſt certain, even the Being of a God.
How far Scepticiſme is commendable.§. 11. Albeit Scepticiſme be a thing of dangerous Conſequence, yet is it not wholly to be condemned in things naturals and as it was uſed, in its firſt original: for although there are many things certain, which ought not to be called into queſtion, yet there are, eſpecially in naturals, many more uncertain things, in ſuch things, if we will not precipitately erre, we muſt not precipitately Judge. but in things of this kind it is moſt agreeable foreign, to ſuſpend our aſſent; which was the practiſe of Plato, and his ſucceſſors in the old Academie, whence ſprang the Academick foreign. Thence Tullie in Lucullo brings in the Academicks ſpeaking thus: We are not thoſe, to whom nothing ſeems true; but we ſay that there are ſome falſehoods mixed with Truths, and that under ſo great ſimilitude, as that there remains in them no certain note of diſcretion, or difference. Agen ſaies Cicero: what can there be more raſh, and unworthie the gravitie, and conſtance of a Wiſe man, than to yield a falſe aſſent; or to defend without heſitation that, which is not ſufficiently perceived, or underſtood. This modeſt foreign or ſuſpenſion was greatly affected by Socrates, who in things uncertain, or dubious gave himſelf, and Scholars a liberty of ſuſpending; though in things neceſſarie, certain, and Moral he was very tenacious, and Dogmatizing.