Skeptic-cum-Augur, Was Cicero a Skeptical Fideist ?

Author: Ribeiro, Brian
Title: Skeptic-cum-Augur, Was Cicero a Skeptical Fideist ?
Review/Collection: Ancient Philosophy, 43, 2, Fall 2023
Year edition: 2023
Pages: 503-515
Keywords: Philosophie - Filosofia - Philosophy, Religion - Religione - Religion
Description: In section 1, I present a case for understanding Cicero as a radical Academic skeptic, based on evidence from the Academica. In section 2, I offer an explanation of the concept of skeptical fideism and present a way to taxonomize various versions of the view. The material in sections 1 and 2 positions us to ask, was Cicero, the Academic augur, a sincere orthopraxic skeptical fideist ? In section 3 I attempt to answer that question, beginning with an examination of De divinatione. Reading that work in a skeptical light, as I do, we are led to an impasse on our central question. However, in section 4 I consider two lines of argument that might enable us to determine Cicero’s own views. [Author]
Works:
Author initials: Ribeiro 2023