Editing Pyrrho (section)

==Life==
[[File:MacedonEmpire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Map of [[Alexander the Great]]'s empire and the route he and Pyrrho took to [[India]]]]
Pyrrho of Elis is estimated to have lived from around 365/360 until 275/270 BCE.<ref name=":0"/> Pyrrho was from [[Ancient Elis|Elis]], on the [[Ionian Sea]].  He was likely a member of the Klytidiai,<ref>Dee L. Clayman, ''Timon of Phlius: Pyrrhonism into Poetry'' {{ISBN|3110220806}} 2009 p51</ref>  a clan of seers in Elis who interpreted the oracles of the [[Temple of Zeus, Olympia|Temple of Zeus]] at Olympia<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Graeciae Descriptio'' 6.17.6</ref> where Pyrrho served as a high priest. The Klytidiai were descendants of Klytios, who was the son of [[Alcmaeon (mythology)|Alcmaeon]] and the grandson of [[Amphiaraus]]. In the ''Python'', Pyrrho's student [[Timon of Phlius]] describes first meeting Pyrrho on the grounds of an [[Amphiareion]], i.e., a temple of Amphiaraus, while they were both on a pilgrimage to [[Delphi]].<ref>[[Eusebius of Caesaria]] ''Praeparatio Evangelica'' Chapter 18</ref>

Most biographical information on Pyrrho, as well as some information concerning his demeanor and behavior, come from Diogenes Laertius; his work on Pyrrho's life drew primarily from the works of mid-third century BC biographer [[Antigonus of Carystus]].<ref name=":1" /> [[Diogenes Laërtius]], quoting from [[Apollodorus of Athens]], says that Pyrrho was at first a painter, and that pictures by him were exhibited in the gymnasium at Elis. Later he was diverted to philosophy by the works of [[Democritus]], and according to [[Diogenes Laërtius]] became acquainted with the [[Megarian school of philosophy|Megarian dialectic]] through [[Bryson of Achaea|Bryson]], pupil of [[Stilpo]].<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''[[Lives of the Eminent Philosophers]]'' Book IX, Chapter 11, Section 61 [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D11]</ref> Unlike the founders of other Hellenistic philosophies, Pyrrho was not substantively influenced by [[Socrates]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SWbABgAAQBAJ&q=Pyrrho+and+the+Socratic&pg=PA149 Richard Bett, "Pyrrho and the Socratic Schools", ''From the Socratics to the Socratic Schools: Classical Ethics, Metaphysics and Epistemology'' Routledge, March 12, 2015, p. 149] "There is no evidence of Pyrrho having regarded Socrates as an intellectual or ethical inspiration.... Similarly, one would be hard pressed to find any kind of link between the two in terms of philosophical "succession"...."</ref>

Pyrrho, along with [[Anaxarchus]], travelled with [[Alexander the Great]] on his [[Indian campaign of Alexander the Great|Indian campaign]], "so that he even went as far as the [[Gymnosophists]] in [[India]] and the [[Magi]]" in [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]].<ref name=":1">{{cite journal|url=https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2014/entries/pyrrho|title=Pyrrho|last1=Bett|first1=Richard|last2=Zalta|first2=Edward|date=Winter 2014|website=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy|access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> Returning to Elis, he lived in poor circumstances, but was highly honored by the Elians, who made him a high priest, and also by the Athenians, who conferred upon him the rights of citizenship.<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''[[Lives of the Eminent Philosophers]]'' Book IX, Chapter 11, Section 64, 65 [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D11]</ref>

As for his behavior, Pyrrho is reported to have been very reclusive, appearing only rarely to his household. This was due to a reproach given to Anaxarchus which he had overheard, arguing that he would not be able to teach anyone else to be good while he paid court to kings.<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''[[Lives of the Eminent Philosophers]]'' Book IX, Chapter 11, Section 64</ref> He is also said to have retained equanimity at all times, even to the extent of completing a conversation after his audience departed and he was left alone. His indifference is further demonstrated by a report that after Anaxarchus fell into a muddy puddle, Pyrrho walked by without offering assistance, an act that was later praised by Anaxarchus himself.<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''Lives of the Eminent Philosophers'' Book IX, Chapter 9, Section 63</ref> As tales of his nonchalance seem to dominate the sources about him, still others relate a degree of sensitivity. One account tells of him being angered on behalf of his sister, justifying himself with the statement that "where a little woman was concerned it was not appropriate to display indifference". Another tells of him being frightened by a dog and explaining that "it was difficult to strip oneself completely of being human; but one could struggle against circumstances, by means of actions in the first instance, and if they were not successful, by means of reason".<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''Lives of the Eminent Philosophers'' Book IX, Chapter 9, Section 66</ref> The inconsistency of these tales is echoed in the descriptions of his general approach as well. Diogenes himself states that Pyrrho avoided nothing and took no precautions, thereby making his safety dependent on his disciples, this according to [[Antigonus of Carystus]],<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''[[Lives of the Eminent Philosophers]]'' Book IX, Chapter 11, Section 62</ref> but he also quotes [[Aenesidemus]] as saying:<blockquote>'Although he practised philosophy on the principles of suspension of judgement, he did not act carelessly in the details of daily life. He lived to be nearly ninety.'<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''[[Lives of the Eminent Philosophers]]'' Book IX, Chapter 11, Section 62</ref></blockquote>Pyrrho's pupils included Timon of Phlius, [[Hecataeus of Abdera]], and [[Nausiphanes]], who was one of [[Epicurus]]' teachers.<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''Lives of the Eminent Philosophers'' Book IX, Chapter 9, Section 69 [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D11]</ref> [[Arcesilaus]] was also a pupil of Pyrrho, and he maintained Pyrrho's philosophy except in name.<ref>[[Eusebius of Caesarea]], ''[[Praeparatio Evangelica]]'' Chapter VI</ref> Upon becoming [[scholarch]] of the [[Platonic Academy]], Arcesilaus transformed its teachings to conform with those of Pyrrho. This initiated [[Academic skepticism|Academic Skepticism]], the second Hellenistic school of skeptical philosophy.<ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]] ''Lives of the Eminent Philosophers'' Book IV, Chapter 6, Section 33 [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D4%3Achapter%3D6]</ref>

[[File:Pyrrho_Heliensis_-_Illustrium_philosophorum_et_sapientum_effigies_ab_eorum_numistatibus_extractae.png|thumb|Imaginary engraving of [[Pyrrho of Elis]] by [[Girolamo Olgiati]] from Illustrium philosophorum et sapientum effigies ab eorum numismatibus extractae. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.]]