The Mode of Hypothesis

Abstract

This chapter offers an elucidation of the mode of hypothesis. Both the nature and the function of Sextan hypothesizing are clarified—its nature by unpacking Sextus’ characterization of the phenomenon at PH 1.168 and its function by comparing it to the kinds of function hypotheses can have in Platonic and Aristotelian contexts. A distinction is then drawn between dogmatic and sceptical hypotheses, following which three versions of the mode of hypothesis are extracted from Sextus’ text. It is argued that the third version is the basic version of the mode. This version of the mode, moreover, is shown to be a limiting case of the sceptic’s method of equipollence and therefore a mode on the basis of which the sceptic can come to suspend judgement.