On The Epoché In Hellenistic Skepticism

The essence of philosophy is the pursuit of truth,not the possession of truth.Hellenistic skeptics were such a group of φιλ?σοφο?(lovers of wisdom),characterized by their exploratory spirit,rather than being self-proclaimed possessors of wisdom,or philosophus(owners of wisdom).After repeatedly seeking knowledge without results,Hellenistic skeptics refused to succumb to arrogance and instead suspended their own judgment,entering a state of Epoché in their minds.The purpose of this paper is to explore the philosophical meaning of the term“suspend of judgement” or “Epoché” and to clarify its important position in the history of The purpose of this paper is to explore the philosophical meaning of the term “suspend of judgement” or “Epoché” and to clarify its important position in the history of Hellenistic philosophy and its impact on modern philosophy,in order to better understand and address the challenges that skepticism poses to epistemology.The paper does not delve into the detailed analysis of the argumentation of Hellenistic skepticism,but rather focuses on its enlightening role in epistemology and practice.Epoché,also known as suspension of judgment,is a philosophical tool of Hellenistic skepticism,mainly used for dealing with philosophical disagreements,promoting self-awareness and humility of knowledge development.Its origin can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Pyrrho,who advocated that humans cannot obtain true knowledge and therefore should maintain a skeptical attitude towards the nature of things.It gradually developed into the philosophical school of Pyrrhonism and made a grand impact on the history of European philosophy.The two major features of Hellenistic skepticism,suspension of judgment and investigation,emphasize the method of opposition,constructing the equivalence of persuasive power between positive and negative arguments,and focus on the therapeutic use of skeptical arguments.This paper extensively studies the original works of Sextus Empiricus and draws on the essence of domestic and foreign research to describe the understanding and application of skepticism in Hellenistic philosophy.It explores how skepticism helps people better understand the limitations of human cognitive abilities,introduces the applicable scope of suspending judgement in the fields of cognition and practice,and elaborates on its specific applications in practice.When faced with complex and diverse problems,people should temporarily suspend their beliefs,let go of prejudices,and approach problems with an open and cautious attitude.Hellenistic skepticism inspires us to treat beliefs more objectively,be aware of the limitation philosophy and its impact on modern philosophy,in order to better understand and address the challenges that skepticism poses to epistemology.The paper does not delve into the detailed analysis of the argumentation of Hellenistic skepticism,but rather focuses on its enlightening role in epistemology and practice.Hellenistic skepticism inspires us to treat beliefs more objectively,be aware of the limitations of beliefs,and try to think about theoretical and practical disagreements from different perspectives.It is necessary to communicate with people who hold different views,to understand each other’s positions,and to explore the light of truth and wisdom in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance.This paper uses a comprehensive interdisciplinary research method,crossing philosophy,history,sociology,psychology,and other fields,to explore the philosophy of skepticism and analyze it in a broader philosophical and cultural context to promote communication and collaboration between fields.The paper is organized in four parts:the first part(Chapters 1 and 2)mainly explains the history and philosophical basis of skepticism,combined with the analysis of Sextus Empiricus’ text,to explore its core concepts,examine its position and influence in ancient philosophy,and compare it with other philosophical schools.Chapter 1 provides a brief overview of the research background and reviews the literature at home and abroad.Chapter 2 clarifies the historical origins of skepticism,investigates the five basic themes of Pyrrhonism,and explains the origin of skepticism in depth.The second part(Chapter 3)focuses on the argumentation methods of Greek skepticism,with a focus on how to deal with philosophical differences,and concentrates on skepticism’s attitude toward knowledge and argumentation methods,comparing it with the views of modern and contemporary philosophers.The third part(Chapters 4 and 5)introduces some issues related to the consistency of Pyrrhonism,such as whether critical philosophy can help us lead a good life,how to deal with differences in a multicultural context,and explores the specific application and impact of skepticism in the practice domain,analyzing the relationship between scientific methods and skeptical regulations.The fourth part(Chapter 6)explores the position and influence of Pyrrhonism in modern and contemporary thought,taking Montaigne,Hume,Wittgenstein,Rorty,and other “Pyrrhonist philosophers” as examples,proposing innovative interpretations.Since these thinkers share similar philosophical interests with“Pyrrhonists” the paper analyzes the influence of skepticism on these philosophers and compares their insights with those of Hellenistic skepticism.Through the study of Hellenistic skepticism,we can better understand how skepticism contributes wisdom to human epistemology and practical activities,providing guidance for addressing the myriad issues in the world.In the real world,grasping the essence of skepticism not only guides us to constantly exercise caution in our epistemological pursuits but also assists us in tackling various challenges,ultimately achieving inner peace.