Pyrrho's Way: The Ancient Greek Version of Buddhism

I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. Philosophy? Some Greek named Pyrrho I’d never heard of? I was a French literature major through grad school and then went to law school, so I know Romance languages and legalese, but this seemed like a very specialized field to me. Instead, I was in for a surprise: a book that speaks to neophytes as well as those schooled in the subject, which doesn’t talk down to the reader nor does it verge into the obscure. As a result, I learned not only about Pyrrhonism, but also about competing schools of philosophy that arose from the Greek traditions, about which I had only a dim recollection.The author skillfully reviews the origins and tenets of Pyrrho’s thoughts and world view, in a way that is both comprehensible and appealing. He compares it to Buddhism, whose influence on Pyrrho he also explains. Although the thesis of this book is a clear-eyed defense of Pyrrhonism, it is respectful of all other philosophies in the process. That approach made me more inclined to give the book a fair reading.At my advanced age (to remain undisclosed), I have lived through many challenging experiences. What they have taught me primarily is that I don’t know as much as I would like to think I do. Also, I realize that there is almost nothing in my universe that I can control apart from myself, my attitude, and my reactions to people, places, and things. Pyrrhonism takes a “wait and see” approach to situations, controversies, and even pain. In that way, it removes the temptation to judgment, which can be so damaging. From what I learned in this book, it offers a pathway that isn’t complicated by mysteries that must be accepted on faith. Instead, it presents a practical way of living that produces serenity, the kind that meditation promises, but doesn’t always deliver to everyone. Best of all, this book provides food for thought!

There are many 'self-help' books of a literary and ( more recently ) philosophical nature such as how this or that philosopher or philosophical school might 'change your life'. If this trend or sub-genre brings people to appreciate Proust or Nietzsche or serve as an introduction to philosophy, then this can only be a good thing. This book serves that purpose with regards to Pyrrhonism but transcends it, too. Instead of demonstrating how, say, Aristotle will help you fill in a job application ( as one such recent book does! ), Douglas Bates shows us how the classical philosophical path of Pyrrhonism might actually bring about the peace of mind that ancient Greek philosophy sought. Furthermore, the author demonstrates that this path in many ways 'mirrors' the earliest Buddhist teachings and their development in later ones such as Zen. Pyrrhonism, in essence, is a suspension of judgement regarding that which is non-evident ( ie. 'beliefs' ). The training in this 'epoche' - involving remembrance techniques regarding the fallibility of such beliefs and the human tendency to extrapolate dogmas from them - leads the practitioner away from the trouble that defending such beliefs involves and to an increasingly calm and 'enlightened' state of mind. I found this book particularly fascinating in the rich description given of the various classical ( Greek ) schools of philosophy and their relation to each other. I would recommend, however, that the reader has at least a basic understanding of those schools and of eastern philosophy to derive the maximum benefit from this book ( not essential but recommended ). Highly recommended - especially in our current period of dogmatic division.

This book includes.) an attempt to rewrite Sextus Empiricus' Outlines of Pyrrhonism in a way that drastically misrepresents the original.) dogmatic assertions equating Buddhism with Pyrrhonic skepticism that can be refuted by anyone with any amount of academic experience. Conjectures that are presented mostly without citation. The few sources that exist can hardly be considered uncontroversial. The author in no way addresses the fact that Buddhism isn't one thing, it's a collection of many doctrines, sometimes incompatible with each other..) Pretty workable and pragmatic advice on practicing Pyrrhonism in these contemporary times. This is pretty much the best, and only useful, part of the book.I cannot in good faith recommend this book. One third of it is useless if one has already read Sextus Empiricus' works - which one should do if one is interested in Pyrrhonic skepticism. The other third is useless on a general principle - because it's dogmatism of the sort that any Pyrrhonic skeptic should stay away from. The latter third is pretty interesting material, but doesn't, it seems to me, justify the purchase of the book.