Sitzungsberichte der Prussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 23 (1904) 752–759; D.E. Pingree,
“The Indian and Pseudo-Indian Passages in Greek and Latin Astronomical Texts,” Viator 7 (1976)
141 – 195.
Kim Plofker and Toke Lindegaard KnudsenKarneade ̄s of Kure ̄ne ̄ (190 – 130 BCE)
A member and later head of the Academy, per-
haps representing the climax of its skeptical phase.
He wrote nothing; our knowledge of his arguments
depends ultimately on reports of his younger con-
temporaries, particularly K
C and Philo of Larissa. His arguments
were directed especially against the Stoics, but
also against the Epicureans and others. It is
much disputed whether his procedure was purely
dialectical – intended to demonstrate what these
other philosophers should conclude given their own
intellectual commitments – or whether a skeptical
stance of suspension of judgment, resulting from
the irreconcilability of opposing arguments, was
something he personally adopted. He developed a
theory of decision based on the notion of “per-
suasive appearances,” a form of fallibilism
designed to operate in the absence of certainty;
again, it is debatable whether he intended this for
his own use or as a dialectical device.
The topics of Karneade ̄s’ arguments range
widely over epistemology and ethics, but also include some issues of more direct relevance
to science. He attacked both Stoics and Epicureans on determinism, fate and causation;
the Epicureans, he held, did not need their notorious atomic swerve in order to preserve
human freedom, and the Stoics need not infer that everything is fated from the fact that
everything is caused. He also addressed issues in theology (considered part of physics in the
Hellenistic period), in particular arguing that there is no clear boundary between the divine
and the non-divine and that divination has no clear purpose.
Long and Sedley (1987) §§ 68 – 70; OCD3 293 – 294, G. Striker; SEP “Carneades,” J. Allen.
Richard Bett
Karpio ̄n (450 – 430 BCE)
Presumably an architect, co-author with I of a book on the Parthenon (V
7.pr.12). There has been speculation about his role in the Parthenon’s construction, but,
in keeping with ancient tradition, modern discussions usually credit Iktinos with the design.
KLA 1.404–405, M. Korres.
Margaret M. Miles
Karneades © Antikenmuseum Basel
und Sammlung Ludwig
KARPIO ̄N