Did India shape Greek scepticism?
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The Greek philosopher Pyrrho went to India with Alexander and then founded scepticism. Was he taught by Indian sages?
Disputed: evidence incompleteCulture, games, language & ideas
Indian claim
Pyrrho learned his key ideas, such as suspending judgement to reach peace of mind, from Indian (possibly early Buddhist) teachers he met in India.
Evidence for the Indian claim
- Diogenes Laertius reports that Pyrrho went to India with Alexander and was deeply impressed by the 'naked wise men' (gymnosophists) there.
- Britannica says Pyrrho saw in the ascetics of India an example of happiness coming from indifference to circumstances.
- Christopher Beckwith's book Greek Buddha (2015) argues that Pyrrho's ideas match early Buddhist teachings closely.
Commonly credited to
Pyrrho's scepticism grew out of Greek philosophy, especially the school of Democritus, which he studied under Anaxarchus.
Evidence for the other claim
- The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy says we do not know who the Indian sages were or what they taught, and that Diogenes' claim has an unclear basis.
- Greek sources say conversation with the Indian sages needed several interpreters.
- Pyrrho's ideas can be explained from earlier Greek thought (Democritus, through Anaxarchus).
What historians and scientists say
Pyrrho certainly travelled in India and was impressed by its sages. How much his philosophy owes to them is debated; some scholars see clear Indian influence, others a mainly Greek origin.