Sekstus Empiryk o sceptycyzmie Ksenofanesa z Kolofonu

Abstract

The aim of present paper is to analyse two different interpretations of Xenophanes’ scepticism sketched by Sextus Empiricus in his work Against Logicians. The very first attempt of a systematic grasping of the meaning of the poet’s epistemological concerns can be understood in the light of the so called hypatyphos problem ascribed to Xenophanes already by Timon of Phlius, namely the question of alleged tension between two sides of Colophonian’s thought: dogmatic and sceptical ones. As a result, shared vital points of these interpretations can be mentioned: an endeavour to understand the poet’s philosophical doubts through later concepts of the sceptical school and its distinctive technical terms on the basis of silent epistemological assumptions. Also some characteristic features are presented (different modes of grasping the idea of opinion – dokos). Some prospective analyses concerning traits of these exegetic approaches in contemporary interpretations of Xenophanes’ scepticism are needed.