Articles with keyword: truth

Xenophanes of Colophon and the Problem of Distinguishing Between Skepticism and Negative Dogmatism
Dariusz Kubok University of Silesia in Katowice

ELECTRYONE 

2016
Volume 4, Issue 2

 | pp.

31-53

Abstract:

Sextus Empiricus in Pyr. (I, 224, cf Diog. IX, 18) describes Xenophanes of Colophon as hupatuphos, which is to mean that he was a skeptic who did not entirely free himself of dogmatic assertions. In this paper I will try to demonstrate an alternative way of understanding hupatuphos in relation to Xenophanes. In my opinion, the interpretation according to which passages can be found in Xenophanes' writings expressing both a skeptical and negative dogmatic position is possible. Thus, this thinker may be described with the adjective hupatuphos not because he did not manage to free himself of positive dogmatism, but rather because he did not free himself of negative dogmatism.
Subjects:Ancient Greek Literature, Philosophy