Outlines of Pyrrhonism

SEXTUS THE PHILOSOPHER

...variety. The second is from the difference among humans. The third is from the diverse constitutions of the sense organs. The fourth is from varying circumstances Latin: habitu; refers to the physical or mental state of the observer, such as being awake, asleep, young, or old.. The fifth is from positions, intervals, and locations. The sixth is from mixtures. The seventh is from the quantities and constitutions of the underlying objects. The eighth is from relativity Latin: ex eo quod ad aliquid refertur; literally, "from that which is referred to something else." This is the core Sceptical principle that things are only known in relation to the observer and the conditions of observation.. The ninth is from things that happen frequently or rarely. The tenth is from customs, habits, laws, mythical beliefs, and dogmatic opinions. We use this specific order conventionally.

Furthermore, there are three modes that encompass all of these. First, those concerning the one judging; second, those concerning the thing being judged; third, those concerning both. For under the mode concerning the one judging are included the first four; because the one who judges is either an animal, or a human, or a sense, and is in some particular state. To the mode concerning the thing being judged are referred the seventh and tenth. To the mode composed of both of these are subjected the fifth, sixth, eighth, and ninth.

Again, these three are referred back to the mode of relativity; so that the most general mode is this one of relativity, while the other three are specific; under which the ten modes are again arranged. We state these things about their number as a matter of probability; but concerning their power to persuade, we say the following:

1. We said the first mode is the one according to the difference of animals, whereby the same objects do not produce the same mental impressions Latin: phantasiæ; the appearances or images produced in the mind by the senses. in them. We gather this both from their diverse origins and the difference in the constitutions of their bodies. Regarding origins, then: since among animals some are born without mating, others from mating. And of those born without mating, some are produced from fire, like the zoophyta original: zoophyta; literally "animal-plants." In ancient biology, this term often referred to organisms that seemed to bridge the gap between plants and animals, or in this context, legendary creatures like the "fire-flyer" believed to live in industrial furnaces. which we see in kilns; others from stagnant water, like gnats; others from wine turned sour, like midges; others from the earth; others from slime, like frogs; others from mud, like worms; others from donkeys, like beetles; others from garden herbs, like caterpillars; others from fruits, like the little worms born in wild figs...