Widely published author on ancient Greek skepticism and Johns Hopkins philosophy professor Richard Bett spoke to Denison students in March 2025 about Empiricus’s role as a doctor and philosopher.
The use of medical analogies in Greek philosophy goes back at least to Plato. Empiricus was a doctor, a member of the Empiric school, and a skeptical philosopher. Bett noted clear links between Empiricist medicine and his brand of skepticism.
“How far does Sextus appeal to medical analogies in explaining his own philosophy?” Bett asked.
Less than we might have expected, Bett said. But perhaps Sextus took the general analogy between skepticism and medicine for granted.
“It is also worth asking how far viewing his skeptical method in light of the medical analogy is helpful for us in understanding him,” Bett said. “Here too, there may be limits to how illuminating this is; however, there are certainly connections worth exploring.”
Bett has published widely on Sextus Empiricus, as well as on the Sophists, Socrates, Plato, the Stoics, and Nietzsche. He is currently vice chair of the APA Board of Officers.
Bett lectured at Denison thanks to the Titus-Hepp Lecture Series, named for Denison philosophy professors Harold H. Titus and Maylon H. Hepp, who jointly contributed over 63 years of prominent academic service to the philosophy department.
