Pyrrho (c360 BC - c270 BC), a Greek philosopher from Elis, is usually credited as being the first skeptic philosopher and is the founder of the school known as Pyrrhonism.
Diogenes Laertius, quoting from Apollodorus, says that he was at first a painter, and that pictures by him were in existence in the gymnasium at Elis. Later he was diverted to philosophy by the works of Democritus, and became acquainted with the Megarian dialectic through Bryson, pupil of Stilpo.
Pyrrho, along with Anaxarchus, travelled with Alexander the Great on his exploration of the east, and studied in India under the Gymnosophists and under the Magi in Persia. From the Oriental philosophy he seems to have adopted a life of solitude. Returning to Elis, he lived in poor circumstances, but was highly honoured by the Elians and also by the Athenians, who gave him the rights of citizenship. His doctrines are known mainly through the satiric writings of his pupil Timon of Phlius (the Sillographer).
More on [ Pyrrho ]
Life of Pyrrho - The 1895 C.D. Yonge translation of this section from Diogenes Laertius.
Pyrrho - A short article from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica, provided through Philosophyclassics.com.
Pyrrho - Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article. Details the known aspects of Pyrrho's career, and discusses his impact on later thinkers.
Pyrrho of Elis - From the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, by Richard Bett. Article on Pyrrho the founder of Pyrrhonism, one of the two major traditions of Skepticism.
The Ecole Glossary: Pyrrho - A very short article by Marda Kaiser.
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