Skepticism today is usually considered a positive thing -- not to accept anything on faith could be a motto for any number of famous philosophers! In its origin, however, it was a bit more extreme. Pyrrho of Elis (365-275) is usually credited with founding the “school” of skepticism. It is believed that he traveled to India and studied with the “gymnosophists” (naked lovers of wisdom), which could have been any number of Indian sects. From there, he brought back the idea that nothing can be known for certain. The senses are easily fooled, and reason follows too easily our desires.

If we cannot ever know anything for certain, then we may as well suspend our judgment, stop arguing over what will never be settled, and try to find a little peace and tranquility in life. That tranquility he called ataraxia. Note that, although we can't know anything for certain, we can know many things well enough to get by. The sun may or may not rise tomorrow -- but the odds are good that it will, and what use would it serve to worry about it anyway!

Likewise, if no system is ultimately supportable, for the sake of peace, simply adopt whatever system is prevalent in your neck of the woods. Pyrrho lived out his life worshiping the gods of Elis, although he would certainly never acknowledge that they had any more likelihood of reality as any other gods, or no gods at all! There are many things a skeptic might accept for convenience, even though there be no ultimate proof.

Although at first glance this sounds positive, one of my students, Annie Lam, said this:

Using Pyrrho’s reasoning, slavery would still exist today because Black Americans should accept their role in life as chattel in order to preserve peace in the community. Most societies organize themselves into hierarchical systems, thus, those groups of individuals who are lower on the hierarchy typically experience oppression, and in some extreme examples may be dehumanized and brutalized. I agree with the idea that nothing can be known for certain; however, it is for this reason that I believe arguments and debates should occur as opposed to being discouraged as advocated by Pyrrho. It is only with the free and respectful exchange of ideas that individuals can develop their personal values and beliefs in an educated manner. I think if we sacrifice this exchange in order to acquire ataraxia, we also sacrifice our ability to develop a genuine self because self-reflection – judgment of self and others -- is not encouraged.

Later skeptics became prevalent among the students in Plato’s Academy. One in particular, Carneades of Cyrene (c.214-129 ), was notorious for arguing one side of an issue one day and the other the next day. He said "There is absolutely no criterion for truth. For reason, senses, ideas, or whatever else may exist are all deceptive."