The Apraxia Objection in Academic Skepticism
The apraxia objection is o
The thesis of suspension of assent on all matters (henceforth the thesis of suspension)
1. The Inactivity Objection
The inactivity objection is an argument put forward by Stoics against the possibility and the convenience of suspension of assent on all matters. According to this objection, putting into practice the global and definitive suspension of assent leads to a certain apraxia state which is qualified as a vegetal state in which is impossible to perform any kind of activity (M. 11.162-4; Met. 1008b10-11). Take us a look at the two Academica passages where Cicero exposes this objection:
T1. (Ac. 2.39; cf. 2.108):
T2. (Ac. 2.61-2):
In both passages, it is claimed that the thesis of suspension eliminates the possibility of performing any kind of activity, among which must …show more content…
Thanks to what is said in sources of the Stoic theory of action, we can infer that it is impulsive impressions (φαντασία ὁρμητική). In contrast with sensible impressions (φαντασία αἰσθητική) whose propositional content is descriptive; the propositional content of impulsive impressions is evaluative. While sensible impressions represent states of affairs (e.g. there is a viper on the floor), the content of impulsive impressions has the form “it is appropriate (for me) φ”, where φ is a course of action (e.g. it is appropriate to avoid vipers). These kinds of impression are those that, once we have given them the assent, produce the impulse to perform the actions evaluated as appropriated. Accordingly, we can assert that impulsive impressions are necessary conditions to produce actions. In conclusion, the thesis of suspension eliminates altogether the action and leads to a vegetal state in which we are unable to move because this thesis eliminates a necessary condition to produce any action: the assent to impulsive
The apraxia objection is o
The thesis of suspension of assent on all matters (henceforth the thesis of suspension)
1. The Inactivity Objection
The inactivity objection is an argument put forward by Stoics against the possibility and the convenience of suspension of assent on all matters. According to this objection, putting into practice the global and definitive suspension of assent leads to a certain apraxia state which is qualified as a vegetal state in which is impossible to perform any kind of activity (M. 11.162-4; Met. 1008b10-11). Take us a look at the two Academica passages where Cicero exposes this objection:
T1. (Ac. 2.39; cf. 2.108):
T2. (Ac. 2.61-2):
In both passages, it is claimed that the thesis of suspension eliminates the possibility of performing any kind of activity, among which must …show more content…
Thanks to what is said in sources of the Stoic theory of action, we can infer that it is impulsive impressions (φαντασία ὁρμητική). In contrast with sensible impressions (φαντασία αἰσθητική) whose propositional content is descriptive; the propositional content of impulsive impressions is evaluative. While sensible impressions represent states of affairs (e.g. there is a viper on the floor), the content of impulsive impressions has the form “it is appropriate (for me) φ”, where φ is a course of action (e.g. it is appropriate to avoid vipers). These kinds of impression are those that, once we have given them the assent, produce the impulse to perform the actions evaluated as appropriated. Accordingly, we can assert that impulsive impressions are necessary conditions to produce actions. In conclusion, the thesis of suspension eliminates altogether the action and leads to a vegetal state in which we are unable to move because this thesis eliminates a necessary condition to produce any action: the assent to impulsive