Sextus Empiricus: General Principles 311
conditions of the body. 218. He says that the rational principles of all
the appearances reside in the matter, so that the matter all by itself is
able to be all those things it appears to be to everyone. And men sometimes
apprehend different things because of their different dispositions. For
one who is in a natural state apprehends those attributes of material
things which are able to appear to those in a natural state; and those in
an unnatural state apprehend those attributes which are able to appear
to those in an unnatural state. 219. Further, the same reasoning applies
to different ages, sleeping or waking, and each type of disposition. Man
thus becomes the criterion of things, according to him, for all that appears
to man also exists, whereas that which appears to no man does not exist.
We see, therefore, that he dogmatizes about flowing matter and about
the existence of explanations of all appearances in it, whereas for us,
these are non-evident and we suspend judgement about them.
Ch. xxxiii In What Respect Scepticism Differs from the
Academic Philosophy
- Some say that the Academic philosophy is the same as scepticism.
Therefore, it is appropriate to discuss this matter next.
Accordingit is thought that there have been three Academies,
the oldest one being that of the Plato and his followers, the second or
middle being that of the followers of Arcesilaus, the student of Polemo,
and the third or New Academy being that of the followers of Carneades
and Clitomachus. Some propose a fourth, that of the followers of Philo
and Charmidas; some even count a fifth, that of the followers of Antioch us.
Let us start with the Old Academy and see how the above-mentioned
philosophies differ. - Some have said that Plato is dogmatic, others that he is dubitative
[aporetic], and others that he is partly one and partly the other. For they
say that in the propaideutic dialogues, where Socrates is introduced either
as teasing people or as combatting sophists, Plato shows a playful and
dubitative character; he shows a dogmatic character when he makes
serious pronouncements either through the mouth of Socrates or Timaeus
or some such person. 222. Regarding those who say that he is dogmatic
or partly dogmatic and partly dubitative, it would be superfluous to
speak now, for they concur in Plato's differences from us. Regarding the
question of whether or not Plato is a pure sceptic, we shall consider it
more fully in our Remarks [Against the Dogmatists]Y But now let us
speak summarily against the followers of Menodotus and Aenesidemus, - In the five books of Against the Dogmatists(= M 7-11) Sextus frequently refers to and
argues against Platonic doctrines.