Buddhism in Ancient Greece: the case of Pyrrho (Pre Read)

Pyrrhonism is commonly confused with scepticism in Western philosophy. Unlike sceptics, who believe there are no true beliefs, Pyrrhonists suspend judgment about all beliefs, including the belief that there are no true beliefs. Pyrrhonism was developed by a line of ancient Greek philosophers, from its founder Pyrrho of Elis in the fourth century BCE through Sextus Empiricus in the second century CE. Pyrrhonists offer no view, theory, or knowledge about the world, but recommend instead a practice, a distinct way of life, designed to suspend beliefs and ease suffering.

Adrian Kuzminski examines Pyrrhonism in terms of its striking similarity to some Eastern non-dogmatic soteriological traditions — particularly Madhyamaka Buddhism. He argues that its origin can plausibly be traced to the contacts between Pyrrho and the sages he encountered in India, where he traveled with Alexander the Great. Although Pyrrhonism has not been practiced in the West since ancient times, its insights have occasionally been independently recovered, most recently in the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Kuzminski shows that Pyrrhonism remains relevant perhaps more than ever as an antidote to today's cultures of belief.

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Please read in advance the Ten Modes of Phyrronism and Chapters 1 and 2 from Pyrrhonism: How Ancient Greeks re-invented Buddhism by Adrian Kuzminski (feel free to skip the section on Martha Nussbaum on pp. 22-24.)

Those who want to dive more into Pyrrhonism can also read Book I of Sextus although it is by no means necessary.

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This group examines the history of Metaphysics by looking primarily at European thinkers in chronological order. Great effort is made to include lesser known thinkers whose thought has historical significance. We will occasionally examine non-European metaphysics too to provide context and comparison.

The organizer is not an expert on Metaphysics but has a long experience in organizing similar meetings. He also has an Oxford PhD in European History as well as a Cambridge MPhil on the same discipline. He currently teaches foreign languages.
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Other meetings in the Metaphysics series:

December 6: The African Cosmology of the Bantu-Kongo: Principles of Living (Pre-Read)
December 13: The Greeks and the Irrational: Madmen and Shamans (Pre Read)
December 20: Metaphysics in the Roman Empire: Plotinus as a Mystic by W.T. Stace (Pre Read)
December 27: "The Origins of the Dialectic" by Leszek Kołakowski

Past:
October 11, Hegel
October 17, Schopenhauer
October 24, Why does the Universe exist?
November 1, Aztec Metaphysics
November 8, Should Feminists reject Metaphysics?
November 22: Emerson: The Over-Soul; Insights into the Soul (Pre Read)