Status Updates From La storia dello scetticismo...

This terrifying possibility that could transform the Cartesian dream of a rational paradise on earth into a Kafka-like hell in which all out attempts to discover true knowledge of reality would be demonically frustrated, requires a cosmic exorcism, a harrowing of heaven.

Mersenne and Gassendi ... found such a reconciliation not in a new dogmatism, or a materialistic metaphysic, but in the realization that the doubts propounded by the Pyrrhonists in no way affected la verite des sciences, provided that the sciences were interpreted as hypothetical systems about appearances, and not true descriptions of reality, as practical guides to actions, and not ultimate information

The abusive critics of scepticism failed to meet the problems being raised, and the Aristotelians met them by begging the crucial questions. The former tried to destroy the force of Pyrrhonism by denouncing it. The latter tried to answer the problems by treating them as items to be dealt with within their system, difficulties to be resolved by the criteria they accepted.

Almost any type of view other than Garasse's constitutes atheism, from the views of Calvin to those of the Pyrrhonists. Five classes of atheism are listed: 1) 'furious and enraged atheism', 2) 'atheism of libertinage and corruption of manners', 3) 'atheism of profanation', 4) 'wavering or unbelieving atheism', and 5) 'brutal, lazy, melancholy atheism'.

[regarding post-aristotelian pseudo-scientific theories], the development of the kind of sceptical crisis that already had appeared in theology was to occur. The 'nouveau Pyrrhonisme' was to envelop all the human sciences and philosophy in a complete sceptical crisis, out of which modern philosophy, and the scientific outlook finally emerged.

The Pyrrhonian arsenal proved an excellent source of ammunition with which to devastate opponents, as well as the basis of a fideistic theory on which to justify the stand of the French Counter-Reformers.

In support of this complete fideism, Montaigne gave what was to be the favorite Scriptural text of the 'nouveaux Pyrrhoniens,' St. Paul's declamation in I Corinthians, first chapter, 'For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.'

The problem of justifying a standard of true knowledge does not arise as long as there is an unchallenged criterion. But in an epoch of intellectual revolution, [...] the very raising of the problem can produce an insoluble crise pyrrhonienne. [...] In defense of a fundamental criterion, what can be offered as evidence? The value of the evidence depends on the criterion, and not vice versa.

Well presented history of a discerning philosophical movement, but the book is replete with grammatical and spelling errors.