Acatalepsis
Acatalepsis (from the Greek akatalepsia, meaning "without comprehension") is a term used by Pyrrho and the ancient skeptics to denote the impossibility of understanding the truth, which leads to a philosophical stance in which one renounces the search for truth as a matter of principle.
Acatalepsis was contrasted with Stoic theories, which affirmed the possibility of katalepsis (from the Greek katalepsis), meaning assent, or comprehension. The radical opposition between these two views led to the ultimate stance of skepticism: suspension of judgment, or epoché, since there was deemed insufficient evidence to support any definitive judgment. This suspension of judgment brought one to ataraxia — a state of inner tranquility or imperturbability.
The skeptic's imperturbability does not arise from attaining a correct understanding of reality, but rather from the awareness that no true knowledge is possible and that every supposed truth cannot be proven with absolute certainty. Even the sources of our emotions—what makes us happy or distressed—fall within this realm of ambiguity, rendering everything negligible, as it might all be illusory. The skeptic’s invitation is to engage in epoché, to reconsider (and resize) each aspect of life in light of the limitations of the human mind, thus reaching a state of happiness, free from error and uncertainty that arise from uncritically accepting reality.
Ataraxia was also valued by the Stoics and Epicureans. However, for them, refraining from excessive passions and desires was not due to a belief that truth was unattainable, but rather because such restraint was a fundamental condition for a serene life and for achieving eudaimonia, or fulfillment.
Francis Bacon distinguishes acatalepsis from eucatalepsis, separating the skeptic’s doubt, grounded in the conviction that truth can never be reached, from methodological doubt, which should instead guide philosophers in their inquiries.
'The philosopher Pyrrho of Elis who crosses the sea' from an anecdote taken from Sextus Empiricus (first quarter of 16th century), by Petrarcameister (1485–1560) - Bavarian State Painting Collections
Last update: November 6, 2024
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