Sextus Empiricus

Sextus Empiricus (c. 160–210ce) is the main resource on ancient Greek skepticism. He was an adherent of Pyrrhonian Skepticism, which attains tranquility by means of suspending judgment because of equipollence between opposing beliefs about things. Sextus places his inquiry into god (PHIII 2) or gods (MIX 13) at the beginning of his treatment of views on nature (physics) and qualifies the suspension of judgment about god(s) that the argument compilations aim to achieve by proclaiming adherence to religious traditions and norms. The combination of suspending judgment about gods with religious conformism appears at best paradoxical and at worst incoherent. However, Sextus's branding of skepticism as an active and ongoing psychological state makes religious participation the context within which one exercises one's skeptical ability on matters concerning god(s). While Sextus's influence has been extensive and diverse, his religious skepticism remains distinctive.