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Full Idea
Sceptics say that every demonstration depends on things which demonstrates themselves, or on things which can't be demonstrated.
Gist of Idea
Sceptics say demonstration depends on self-demonstrating things, or indemonstrable things
Source
Diogenes Laertius (Lives of Eminent Philosophers [c.250], 9.Py.11)
Book Ref
Diogenes Laertius: 'Diogenes Laertius', ed/tr. Yonge,C.D. [Henry G. Bohn 1853], p.413
A Reaction
This refers to two parts of Agrippa's Trilemma (the third being that demonstration could go on forever). He makes the first option sound very rationalist, rather than experiential.
| 3033 | Induction moves from some truths to similar ones, by contraries or consequents [Diog. Laertius] |
| 3035 | Dialectic involves conversations with short questions and brief answers [Diog. Laertius] |
| 1769 | Cynics believe that when a man wishes for nothing he is like the gods [Diog. Laertius] |
| 3064 | When sceptics say that nothing is definable, or all arguments have an opposite, they are being dogmatic [Diog. Laertius] |
| 1816 | Sceptics say demonstration depends on self-demonstrating things, or indemonstrable things [Diog. Laertius] |
| 1819 | Scepticism has two dogmas: that nothing is definable, and every argument has an opposite argument [Diog. Laertius] |
| 1838 | Cyrenaic pleasure is a motion, but Epicurean pleasure is a condition [Diog. Laertius] |