I was dabbling with words as I sometimes do and decided to see what The Devil’s Dictionary had to say of PSYCHOS.
It said nothing.
Apparently psychos were not discovered yet as the P section ended at Pyrrhonism with nothing ps starting before it. I was a bit melancholy over the find that left me probing traditional dictionaries when I hoped to see what the master had to say. A second look around found my gaze at Pyrrhonism, a word I had never seen before, and knew nothing of, yet I was edged on by its propensity to be something to do with fire.
I was wrong…
The Devil’s Dictionary, said that Pyrrhonism is an ancient philosophy, named for its inventor. It consisted of an absolute disbelief in everything but Pyrrhonism.
Well, Bravo! I’ve discovered a new (old) philosophy.
Obviously I needed more, so I went to the traditional dictionaries.
Pyrrho, Greek philosopher; FOUNDER OF SKEPTICISM.
Are you kidding me! I’ve just founded the founder of Skepticism! Without him, we would have no skeptics. The world would be antiskeptical.
More from the dictionary…
He maintained that true wisdom and happiness lie in suspension of judgment, since certain knowledge is impossible to attain.
I do not wish to rock the Pyrrho boat but I think I have acquired that certain knowledge through night school. But I will not flaunt it.
All of you skeptics out there, celebrate your founder and do something stupid. The rest of us will try to restrain ourselves.
At seven, I was labeled a pyromaniac (translation: firebug) by my grandfather when he learned that I had caught a building on fire (just smoldering) lighting cigarettes on a fire we built. My great uncle, his brother, was a fire chief, making it all the worse.
Thank you so much for calling me a Pyrrhonist, although I was skeptical, I know I are one.
Thank you so much for calling me a Pyrrhonist, although I was skeptical, I know I are one.
Ron