Bayle and Pyrrhonism: Antinomy, Method, and History

Smith, Plínio J.

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4810-1_2

Bayle and Pyrrhonism: Antinomy, Method, and History

Plínio J. Smith³

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First Online: 01 January 2013

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Part of the book series: International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées ((ARCH,volume 210))

Abstract

Bayle’s “sceptical method of antinomy” is of enduring historical interest, since so many figures of the period discussed it, including Hume, Kant, and Hegel. In the paper, I examine Bayle’s own definition of scepticism, and exhibit his scepticism at work in the writing of his Dictionary. The first part shows how the sceptical method is built into the very idea of a critique and Bayle’s philosophical reflections. Then, I turn to the application of the sceptical method in the Dictionnary. Finally, I compare Bayle’s use of this method and Sextus’ use, showing the novelties introduced by him.

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Notes

1.
DHC, XII, “Pyrrho”, p. 99. The following abbreviation have been used for Bayle’s works: DHC = Pierre Bayle, Dictionnaire historique et critique, Elibron Classics, 2006, 16 vols (this is an unabridged facsimile of the Desoer’s edition, Paris, 1820). References are to volume, article, remark, page, and column. All translations are by the author.
2.
HP, I, 8, p. 7. The following abbreviations have been used for Sextus Empiricus’s works: Sextus Empiricus, Works, Trans. R.G. Bury, The Loeb Classical Library (ed.), Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1983–1987, 4 vols. HP = volume I, Outlines of Pyrrhonism. References are to book, number, page; AM = volume IV, Against the Professors. References are to book, number, page.
3.
HP, I, 12, 9.
4.
For an exposition of Bayle’s interpretation of ancient scepticism, see Plínio J. Smith, “Bayle e o ceticismo antigo”, Kriterion, 48, 2007, pp. 249–271.
5.
DHC, XV, “Project” III, p. 228a.
6.
Ibid.
7.
Ibid., p. 228b.
8.
Ibid.
9.
Ibid., p. 229a.
10.
DHC, XVI, “Preface”, I, p. 1a.
11.
Ibid., p. 2b.
12.
DHC, X, “Maldonat”, L, p. 169a.
13.
Ibid.
14.
Ibid.
15.
DHC, II, “Arcesilas”, E, p. 247ab.
16.
Ibid., p. 244b.
17.
Ibid., p. 245a.
18.
Ibid., p. 247a.
19.
Ibid., p. 245b.
20.
DHC, II, “Carneades”, B, p. 458b.
21.
DHC, V, “Chrisippus”, F, pp. 163b–164b; G, p. 164b and O, p. 176b.
22.
Ibid., G, p. 164a.
23.
Ibid., p. 166a.
24.
Ibid., p. 164b.
25.
Ibid.
26.
Ibid., p. 166b.
27.
Ibid.
28.
Ibid., p. 167a.
29.
Ibidn, pp. 167a–169a.
30.
DHC, XIV, “Xenophanes”, L, pp. 619b–626b, esp. 622b.
31.
DHC, XV, “Zeno of Elea”, I, p. 57ab.
32.
DHC, IV, “Camden”, G, p. 373a.
33.
DHC, XV, “Project”, IX, pp. 241a–242b.
34.
DHC, IV, “Carneades”, G, p. 466a.
35.
Ibid., pp. 467a–467b.
36.
DHC, XII, “Pyrrho”, B, p. 101a.
37.
DHC, XV, “Zeno of Elea”, G, pp. 41–49.
38.
DHC, VIII, “Jansenius”, G, p. 321b.
39.
DHC, XI, “Nicole”, C, pp. 141b–146a, and XI, “Pellison”, D, pp. 526a–529b.
40.
DHC, XII, “Rorarius”, G, p. 605b.
41.
DHC, V, “Chrisippus”, G, pp. 164b–169a.
42.
HP, II, 21, 165.
43.
HP, II, 13, p. 159; AM, VII, 24–26.
44.
HP, III, 1–3, pp. 325–327; HP, II, 84.
45.
HP, III, 4–12, pp. 327–333.
46.
Cf. AM, VII,25–26; AM, VII 142; AM, VIII, 1–3; HP, II, 84, p. 205; HP, II 194, p. 277; AM, I 40; AM, IV, 49; AM, VII, 338–339; AM, VIII, 2.
47.
HP, I, 5, 5.
48.
AM, I, 57; AM, VII, 140; AM, VII, 331a–334a; AM, VIII, 12; AM, X, 21.
49.
HP, I, 4, pp. 3–5.
50.
DHC, IV, “Carneades”, p. 461a.
51.
DHC, XII, “Pyrrho”, B, p. 101a.

Bibliography

Bayle, Pierre. 1740. Dictionnaire historique et critique, 4 vols. Amsterdam: pp. Brunel.
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Smith, Plínio J. 2007. Bayle e o ceticismo antigo. Kriterion 115: 249–271.
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Sextus Empiricus. 1983–1993. Works, 4 vols. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
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Departamento de Filosofia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Estrada do Caminho Velho 333, 07252-312, Guarulhos, Brazil
Plínio J. Smith

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Université de Sherbrooke, boulevard de l'Université 2500, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Québec, Canada
Sébastien Charles
, Departamento de Filosofia, Universidade Federal de são Paulo, Estrada do Caminho Velho 333, Guarulhos, 07252-312, Brazil
Plínio J. Smith

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Smith, P.J. (2013). Bayle and Pyrrhonism: Antinomy, Method, and History. In: Charles, S., J. Smith, P. (eds) Scepticism in the Eighteenth Century: Enlightenment, Lumières, Aufklärung. International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées, vol 210. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4810-1_2

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4810-1_2
Published: 23 February 2013
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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