more from Democritus

Single Idea 20895

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

Full Idea

Certainly this argument too makes it clear that in reality [eteé] we know nothing about anything, but for each person opinion is a rhythmic afflux [epirhusmié].

Gist of Idea

We actually know nothing, and opinions are mere flux

Source

Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], B007), quoted by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Logicians (two books) 7.137

Book Reference

Democritus: 'Early Greek Phil VII: Democritus', ed/tr. Laks,A/Most,G [Harvard Loeb 2016], p.77


A Reaction

This seems to pick 'all is flux' up from Heraclitus, and make Democritus (along with aspects of Socrates) the true source of ancient scepticism.