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Outlines of Pyrrhonism

Sextus Empiricus · Capítulo 30. Chapter XXX.—Wherein The Sceptic Way Differs From The Democritean Philosophy

Capítulo 30. Chapter XXX.—Wherein The Sceptic Way Differs From The Democritean Philosophy

[1.30.213] But it is also said that the Democritean[115] philosophy has something in common with Scepticism, since it seems to use the same material as we; for from the fact that honey appears sweet to some and bitter to others, Democritus, as they say, infers that it really is neither sweet nor bitter, and pronounces in consequence the formula ‟Not more,” which is a Sceptic formula. The Sceptics, however, and the School of Democritus employ the expression ‟Not more” in different ways; for while they use it to express the unreality of either alternative, we express by it our ignorance as to whether both or neither of the appearances is real.

[1.30.214] So that in this respect also we differ, and our difference becomes specially evident when Democritus says ‟But in verity atoms and void” (for he says ‟In verity” in place of ‟In truth”); and that he differs from us when he says that the atoms and the void are in truth subsistent, although he starts out from the incongruity of appearances, it is superfluous, I think, to state.