Arcesilaus
~316–241 BCE
“Founder of Academic skepticism — suspend judgment; live by probability.”
The four dimensions in the 16-axis model where this thinker scores highest. People in this archetype tend to lean the same way.
- SRSkeptical Reflex9 / 10
- TETrust in Experience7 / 10
- VAVital Affirmation6 / 10
- SSSovereign Self6 / 10
The six thinkers whose 16-dimensional positions sit closest to this one. Useful as next-reading suggestions.
- Sextus Empiricus the YoungerTOUCHSTONE
Outlines of Pyrrhonism — full inventory of the skeptical method.
- Lucian of SamosataTOUCHSTONE
Satirist of dogma — laughter as a corrosive on pretension.
- CarneadesTOUCHSTONE
When certainty fails, the pithanon (the persuasive) becomes the only guide.
- MontaigneTOUCHSTONE
His Essays ask "Que sais-je?", turning skepticism into self-portrait.
- Pierre BayleTOUCHSTONE
His Historical and Critical Dictionary made skepticism the wedge of toleration.
- Lorenzo VallaTOUCHSTONE
Through philological criticism he exposed the Donation of Constantine as a forgery.
Short exercises in the same tradition as Arcesilaus's thought. Each takes 5–25 minutes.
Three doors lead onward.
- 01 · QUIZThe InheritorFind your archetype — discover whether you'd argue with Arcesilaus or alongside them.CONTINUE ▶
- 02 · COMPAREArcesilaus vs Sextus Empiricus the YoungerOn Mull's map Sextus Empiricus the Younger sits closest. See where they agree and where they part.CONTINUE ▶
- 03 · DAILYToday's SparOne philosopher, one topic, five minutes. A new one drops every day.CONTINUE ▶