Ancient Philosophy

Volume 43, Issue 1, Spring 2023

Sextus on Place
A Dialectical Insulation between Philosophical Questions and Ordinary Answers

In Sextus’ discussion of ‘place’ we find an attempt to insulate the philosophical questions about the conception of place and the ordinary answers to questions about where certain things are from one another. Common moves in dialectical practice against begging the question are used to delimitate the two contexts. Contrary to Myles Burnyeat’s interpretation, I argue, through close reading of the relevant texts, that there is no inconsistency in Sextus’ attempt.