Skeptical Fideism in Cicero’s De Natura Deorum

Logos & Episteme, Vol. 10, pp. 95-106, 2019

12 Pages Posted: 22 May 2019

See all articles by Brian Ribeiro

Brian Ribeiro

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Department of Philosophy & Religion

Date Written: April 23, 2019

Abstract

The work of Richard H. Popkin both introduced the concept of skeptical fideism and served to impressively document its importance in the philosophies of a diverse range of thinkers, including Montaigne, Pascal, Huet, and Bayle. Popkin’s landmark History of Scepticism, however, begins its coverage with the Renaissance. In this paper I explore the roots of skeptical fideism in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, with special attention to Cicero’s De Natura Deorum, the oldest surviving text to clearly develop a skeptical fideist perspective.

Keywords: Cicero, Academic skepticism, skeptical fideism

Suggested Citation

Ribeiro, Brian, Skeptical Fideism in Cicero’s De Natura Deorum (April 23, 2019). Logos & Episteme, Vol. 10, pp. 95-106, 2019, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3376548

Brian Ribeiro (Contact Author)

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Department of Philosophy & Religion ( email )

Department of Philosophy & Religion (#2753)
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.brian-ribeiro.com

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