The History of Skepticism from Erasmus to Spinoza

The period I shall treat, 1500-1675, is certainly not the unique period of sceptical impact on modern thought. Both before and after this time interval, one can find important influences of the ancient sceptical thinkers. But, it is my contention that scepticism plays a special and different role in the period from the Reformation up to the formulation of the Cartesian philosophy; a special and different role due to the fact that the intellectual crisis brought on by the Reformation coincided in time with the rediscovery and revival of the arguments of the ancient Greek sceptics. In the sixteenth century, with the discovery of manuscripts of Sextus's writings, there is a revival of interest and concern with ancient scepticism, and with the application of its views to the problems of the day.