Arcesilaus definition of Arcesilaus in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Arcesilaus (ärsĕs'ĭlā`əs), c.316–c.241 B.C., Greek philosopher of Pitane in Aeolis. He was the principal figure of the Middle Academy. Despite his position in the Academy Academy, school founded by Plato near Athens c.387 B.C. It took its name from the garden (named for the hero Academus) in which it was located. Plato's followers met there for nine centuries until, along with other pagan schools, it was closed by Emperor Justinian in
..... Click the link for more information. , his teachings diverged from Platonic doctrine. By emphasizing the doubt expressed by Socrates as to the possibility of gaining knowledge, he took a position comparable to that of the Skeptics (see skepticism skepticism (skĕp`tĭsĭzəm) [Gr.
..... Click the link for more information. ). He argued that knowledge and opinion could not be distinguished from each other, so that what anyone claims to know may be more or less probable but not certain. In denying the possibility of certainty he was a major opponent of the Stoics (see Stoicism Stoicism (stō`ĭsĭzəm), school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium (in Cyprus) c.300 B.C.
..... Click the link for more information. ). Arcesilaus indirectly influenced Carneades Carneades (kärnē`ədēz), 213–129 B.C., Greek philosopher, b. Cyrene.
..... Click the link for more information. and his school.

Bibliography

See A. A. Long, The Hellenistic Philosophers (2 vol. 1987).