Book description
Outlines of Scepticism, by the Greek philosopher Sextus Empiricus, is a work of major importance for the history of Greek philosophy. It is the fullest extant account of ancient scepticism, and it is also one of our most copious sources of information about the other Hellenistic philosophies. Its first part…
- Coming soon!
Why read it?
1 author picked Sextus Empiricus as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
It may seem odd these days to recommend a book first published nearly 2000 years ago, but Sextus’ book remains to my mind the most penetrating existing account we have of therapeutic Pyrrhonian scepticism.
As indispensable as modern scholarly interpretations continue to be, there is nothing like going back to the original sources. In this case we are lucky to find a brief, pithy, and powerful statement of how to live without beliefs. In a world drowning in opinions, other unproven beliefs, and the conflicts they foster, a modern reader can find in this work a path to simplifying one’s…
From Adrian's list on reinventing philosophy.
If you love Sextus Empiricus...
Ancient Evenings
Ancient Evenings is a study of consciousness presented as a series of fictional philosophical dialogues set at the height of the Roman Empire. These dialogues—on good and evil, truth and falsehood, life and death—are historical re-enactments of what persons representing the major Hellenistic schools of philosophy might actually have said…
Want books like Sextus Empiricus?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Sextus Empiricus.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,277
readers submitted
so far, will you?
