more from Michel de Montaigne

Single Idea 6260

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism]

Full Idea

Pyrrhonians say that truth and falsehood exist; within us we have means of looking for them, but not of making any lasting judgements: we have no touchstone.

Clarification

'Pyrrhonians' are sceptics, followers of Pyrrho of Elis

Gist of Idea

Sceptics say there is truth, but no means of making or testing lasting judgements

Source

Michel de Montaigne (Apology for Raymond Sebond [1580], p.0564)

Book Reference

Montaigne,Michel de: 'The Complete Essays', ed/tr. Screech,M.A. [Penguin 1987], p.564


A Reaction

This states the key difference between sceptics and relativists. The latter are more extreme as they say there is no such thing as truth. The former concede truth, and their scepticism is about the abilities of human beings. I am an anti-relativist.