Prokopton42
Symbolic illustration of Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned in the Prokopton42.com Library

Work

Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned

Sextus Empiricus

The first six books of Against the Learned examine grammar, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, astrology, and music. Sextus targets these disciplines’ theoretical claims while sometimes distinguishing useful practices from disputed dogmatic foundations.

Composition
c. 180-220 CE
Sources and precision

The internal chronology remains disputed. This range is a qualified reference point, not a certain year.

Confidence D · disputed range

Tradition
Skepticism
Period
Antiquity
Languages
Ancient Greek · English · French
Extent
757 passages · 50,554 words

Before reading

What you will learn

Identify the target within each discipline, distinguish empirical use from dogmatic foundation, and compare recurring structures of sceptical refutation.

Short summary

The first six books of Against the Learned examine grammar, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, astrology, and music. Sextus targets these disciplines’ theoretical claims while sometimes distinguishing useful practices from disputed dogmatic foundations.

Long summary

Each book asks what a discipline teaches, how its principles are established, and whether its experts agree. Circular definitions, indeterminate units, proofs depending on what they must demonstrate, and conflicts of method feed criticism.

The grouping follows a transmitted series, not six independent modern monographs. Sextus does not necessarily abolish everyday reading, calculation, or musical practice; he attacks the status of certain science claimed by theorists. This distinction prevents confusing scepticism with wholesale rejection of skill.

Inside this work

The table of contents follows the divisions actually carried by the corpus.

Work › Book › Section

Book 1320 passages
  1. Section 1
  2. Section 2
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 4
  5. Section 5
  6. Section 6
  7. Section 7
  8. Section 8
  9. Section 9
  10. Section 10
  11. Section 11
  12. Section 12
  13. Section 13
  14. Section 14
  15. Section 15
  16. Section 16
  17. Section 17
  18. Section 18
  19. Section 19
  20. Section 20
  21. Section 21
  22. Section 22
  23. Section 23
  24. Section 24
  25. Section 25
  26. Section 26
  27. Section 27
  28. Section 28
  29. Section 29
  30. Section 30
  31. Section 31
  32. Section 32
  33. Section 33
  34. Section 34
  35. Section 35
  36. Section 36
  37. Section 37
  38. Section 38
  39. Section 39
  40. Section 40
  41. Section 41
  42. Section 42
  43. Section 43
  44. Section 44
  45. Section 45
  46. Section 46
  47. Section 47
  48. Section 48
  49. Section 49
  50. Section 50
  51. Section 51
  52. Section 52
  53. Section 53
  54. Section 54
  55. Section 55
  56. Section 56
  57. Section 57
  58. Section 58
  59. Section 59
  60. Section 60
  61. Section 61
  62. Section 62
  63. Section 63
  64. Section 64
  65. Section 65
  66. Section 66
  67. Section 67
  68. Section 68
  69. Section 69
  70. Section 70
  71. Section 71
  72. Section 72
  73. Section 73
  74. Section 74
  75. Section 75
  76. Section 76
  77. Section 77
  78. Section 78
  79. Section 79
  80. Section 80
  81. Section 81
  82. Section 82
  83. Section 83
  84. Section 84
  85. Section 85
  86. Section 86
  87. Section 87
  88. Section 88
  89. Section 89
  90. Section 90
  91. Section 91
  92. Section 92
  93. Section 93
  94. Section 94
  95. Section 95
  96. Section 96
  97. Section 97
  98. Section 98
  99. Section 99
  100. Section 100
  101. Section 101
  102. Section 102
  103. Section 103
  104. Section 104
  105. Section 105
  106. Section 106
  107. Section 107
  108. Section 108
  109. Section 109
  110. Section 110
  111. Section 111
  112. Section 112
  113. Section 113
  114. Section 114
  115. Section 115
  116. Section 116
  117. Section 117
  118. Section 118
  119. Section 119
  120. Section 120
  121. Section 121
  122. Section 122
  123. Section 123
  124. Section 124
  125. Section 125
  126. Section 126
  127. Section 127
  128. Section 128
  129. Section 129
  130. Section 130
  131. Section 131
  132. Section 132
  133. Section 133
  134. Section 134
  135. Section 135
  136. Section 136
  137. Section 137
  138. Section 138
  139. Section 139
  140. Section 140
  141. Section 141
  142. Section 142
  143. Section 143
  144. Section 144
  145. Section 145
  146. Section 146
  147. Section 147
  148. Section 148
  149. Section 149
  150. Section 150
  151. Section 151
  152. Section 152
  153. Section 153
  154. Section 154
  155. Section 155
  156. Section 156
  157. Section 157
  158. Section 158
  159. Section 159
  160. Section 160
  161. Section 161
  162. Section 162
  163. Section 163
  164. Section 164
  165. Section 165
  166. Section 166
  167. Section 167
  168. Section 168
  169. Section 169
  170. Section 170
  171. Section 171
  172. Section 172
  173. Section 173
  174. Section 174
  175. Section 175
  176. Section 176
  177. Section 177
  178. Section 178
  179. Section 179
  180. Section 180
  181. Section 181
  182. Section 182
  183. Section 183
  184. Section 184
  185. Section 185
  186. Section 186
  187. Section 187
  188. Section 188
  189. Section 189
  190. Section 190
  191. Section 191
  192. Section 192
  193. Section 193
  194. Section 194
  195. Section 195
  196. Section 196
  197. Section 197
  198. Section 198
  199. Section 199
  200. Section 200
  201. Section 201
  202. Section 202
  203. Section 203
  204. Section 204
  205. Section 205
  206. Section 206
  207. Section 207
  208. Section 208
  209. Section 209
  210. Section 210
  211. Section 211
  212. Section 212
  213. Section 213
  214. Section 214
  215. Section 215
  216. Section 216
  217. Section 217
  218. Section 218
  219. Section 219
  220. Section 220
  221. Section 221
  222. Section 222
  223. Section 223
  224. Section 224
  225. Section 225
  226. Section 226
  227. Section 227
  228. Section 228
  229. Section 229
  230. Section 230
  231. Section 231
  232. Section 232
  233. Section 233
  234. Section 234
  235. Section 235
  236. Section 236
  237. Section 237
  238. Section 238
  239. Section 239
  240. Section 240
  241. Section 241
  242. Section 242
  243. Section 243
  244. Section 244
  245. Section 245
  246. Section 246
  247. Section 247
  248. Section 248
  249. Section 249
  250. Section 250
  251. Section 251
  252. Section 252
  253. Section 253
  254. Section 254
  255. Section 255
  256. Section 256
  257. Section 257
  258. Section 258
  259. Section 259
  260. Section 260
  261. Section 261
  262. Section 262
  263. Section 263
  264. Section 264
  265. Section 265
  266. Section 266
  267. Section 267
  268. Section 268
  269. Section 269
  270. Section 270
  271. Section 271
  272. Section 272
  273. Section 273
  274. Section 274
  275. Section 275
  276. Section 276
  277. Section 277
  278. Section 278
  279. Section 279
  280. Section 280
  281. Section 281
  282. Section 282
  283. Section 283
  284. Section 284
  285. Section 285
  286. Section 286
  287. Section 287
  288. Section 288
  289. Section 289
  290. Section 290
  291. Section 291
  292. Section 292
  293. Section 293
  294. Section 294
  295. Section 295
  296. Section 296
  297. Section 297
  298. Section 298
  299. Section 299
  300. Section 300
  301. Section 301
  302. Section 302
  303. Section 303
  304. Section 304
  305. Section 305
  306. Section 306
  307. Section 307
  308. Section 308
  309. Section 309
  310. Section 310
  311. Section 311
  312. Section 312
  313. Section 313
  314. Section 314
  315. Section 315
  316. Section 316
  317. Section 317
  318. Section 318
  319. Section 319
  320. Section 320
Book 2113 passages
  1. Section 1
  2. Section 2
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 4
  5. Section 5
  6. Section 6
  7. Section 7
  8. Section 8
  9. Section 9
  10. Section 10
  11. Section 11
  12. Section 12
  13. Section 13
  14. Section 14
  15. Section 15
  16. Section 16
  17. Section 17
  18. Section 18
  19. Section 19
  20. Section 20
  21. Section 21
  22. Section 22
  23. Section 23
  24. Section 24
  25. Section 25
  26. Section 26
  27. Section 27
  28. Section 28
  29. Section 29
  30. Section 30
  31. Section 31
  32. Section 32
  33. Section 33
  34. Section 34
  35. Section 35
  36. Section 36
  37. Section 37
  38. Section 38
  39. Section 39
  40. Section 40
  41. Section 41
  42. Section 42
  43. Section 43
  44. Section 44
  45. Section 45
  46. Section 46
  47. Section 47
  48. Section 48
  49. Section 49
  50. Section 50
  51. Section 51
  52. Section 52
  53. Section 53
  54. Section 54
  55. Section 55
  56. Section 56
  57. Section 57
  58. Section 58
  59. Section 59
  60. Section 60
  61. Section 61
  62. Section 62
  63. Section 63
  64. Section 64
  65. Section 65
  66. Section 66
  67. Section 67
  68. Section 68
  69. Section 69
  70. Section 70
  71. Section 71
  72. Section 72
  73. Section 73
  74. Section 74
  75. Section 75
  76. Section 76
  77. Section 77
  78. Section 78
  79. Section 79
  80. Section 80
  81. Section 81
  82. Section 82
  83. Section 83
  84. Section 84
  85. Section 85
  86. Section 86
  87. Section 87
  88. Section 88
  89. Section 89
  90. Section 90
  91. Section 91
  92. Section 92
  93. Section 93
  94. Section 94
  95. Section 95
  96. Section 96
  97. Section 97
  98. Section 98
  99. Section 99
  100. Section 100
  101. Section 101
  102. Section 102
  103. Section 103
  104. Section 104
  105. Section 105
  106. Section 106
  107. Section 107
  108. Section 108
  109. Section 109
  110. Section 110
  111. Section 111
  112. Section 112
  113. Section 113
Book 3116 passages
  1. Section 1
  2. Section 2
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 4
  5. Section 5
  6. Section 6
  7. Section 7
  8. Section 8
  9. Section 9
  10. Section 10
  11. Section 11
  12. Section 12
  13. Section 13
  14. Section 14
  15. Section 15
  16. Section 16
  17. Section 17
  18. Section 18
  19. Section 19
  20. Section 20
  21. Section 21
  22. Section 22
  23. Section 23
  24. Section 24
  25. Section 25
  26. Section 26
  27. Section 27
  28. Section 28
  29. Section 29
  30. Section 30
  31. Section 31
  32. Section 32
  33. Section 33
  34. Section 34
  35. Section 35
  36. Section 36
  37. Section 37
  38. Section 38
  39. Section 39
  40. Section 40
  41. Section 41
  42. Section 42
  43. Section 43
  44. Section 44
  45. Section 45
  46. Section 46
  47. Section 47
  48. Section 48
  49. Section 49
  50. Section 50
  51. Section 51
  52. Section 52
  53. Section 53
  54. Section 54
  55. Section 55
  56. Section 56
  57. Section 57
  58. Section 58
  59. Section 59
  60. Section 60
  61. Section 61
  62. Section 62
  63. Section 63
  64. Section 64
  65. Section 65
  66. Section 66
  67. Section 67
  68. Section 68
  69. Section 69
  70. Section 70
  71. Section 71
  72. Section 72
  73. Section 73
  74. Section 74
  75. Section 75
  76. Section 76
  77. Section 77
  78. Section 78
  79. Section 79
  80. Section 80
  81. Section 81
  82. Section 82
  83. Section 83
  84. Section 84
  85. Section 85
  86. Section 86
  87. Section 87
  88. Section 88
  89. Section 89
  90. Section 90
  91. Section 91
  92. Section 92
  93. Section 93
  94. Section 94
  95. Section 95
  96. Section 96
  97. Section 97
  98. Section 98
  99. Section 99
  100. Section 100
  101. Section 101
  102. Section 102
  103. Section 103
  104. Section 104
  105. Section 105
  106. Section 106
  107. Section 107
  108. Section 108
  109. Section 109
  110. Section 110
  111. Section 111
  112. Section 112
  113. Section 113
  114. Section 114
  115. Section 115
  116. Section 116
Book 434 passages
  1. Section 1
  2. Section 2
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 4
  5. Section 5
  6. Section 6
  7. Section 7
  8. Section 8
  9. Section 9
  10. Section 10
  11. Section 11
  12. Section 12
  13. Section 13
  14. Section 14
  15. Section 15
  16. Section 16
  17. Section 17
  18. Section 18
  19. Section 19
  20. Section 20
  21. Section 21
  22. Section 22
  23. Section 23
  24. Section 24
  25. Section 25
  26. Section 26
  27. Section 27
  28. Section 28
  29. Section 29
  30. Section 30
  31. Section 31
  32. Section 32
  33. Section 33
  34. Section 34
Book 5106 passages
  1. Section 1
  2. Section 2
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 4
  5. Section 5
  6. Section 6
  7. Section 7
  8. Section 8
  9. Section 9
  10. Section 10
  11. Section 11
  12. Section 12
  13. Section 13
  14. Section 14
  15. Section 15
  16. Section 16
  17. Section 17
  18. Section 18
  19. Section 19
  20. Section 20
  21. Section 21
  22. Section 22
  23. Section 23
  24. Section 24
  25. Section 25
  26. Section 26
  27. Section 27
  28. Section 28
  29. Section 29
  30. Section 30
  31. Section 31
  32. Section 32
  33. Section 33
  34. Section 34
  35. Section 35
  36. Section 36
  37. Section 37
  38. Section 38
  39. Section 39
  40. Section 40
  41. Section 41
  42. Section 42
  43. Section 43
  44. Section 44
  45. Section 45
  46. Section 46
  47. Section 47
  48. Section 48
  49. Section 49
  50. Section 50
  51. Section 51
  52. Section 52
  53. Section 53
  54. Section 54
  55. Section 55
  56. Section 56
  57. Section 57
  58. Section 58
  59. Section 59
  60. Section 60
  61. Section 61
  62. Section 62
  63. Section 63
  64. Section 64
  65. Section 65
  66. Section 66
  67. Section 67
  68. Section 68
  69. Section 69
  70. Section 70
  71. Section 71
  72. Section 72
  73. Section 73
  74. Section 74
  75. Section 75
  76. Section 76
  77. Section 77
  78. Section 78
  79. Section 79
  80. Section 80
  81. Section 81
  82. Section 82
  83. Section 83
  84. Section 84
  85. Section 85
  86. Section 86
  87. Section 87
  88. Section 88
  89. Section 89
  90. Section 90
  91. Section 91
  92. Section 92
  93. Section 93
  94. Section 94
  95. Section 95
  96. Section 96
  97. Section 97
  98. Section 98
  99. Section 99
  100. Section 100
  101. Section 101
  102. Section 102
  103. Section 103
  104. Section 104
  105. Section 105
  106. Section 106
Book 668 passages
  1. Section 1
  2. Section 2
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 4
  5. Section 5
  6. Section 6
  7. Section 7
  8. Section 8
  9. Section 9
  10. Section 10
  11. Section 11
  12. Section 12
  13. Section 13
  14. Section 14
  15. Section 15
  16. Section 16
  17. Section 17
  18. Section 18
  19. Section 19
  20. Section 20
  21. Section 21
  22. Section 22
  23. Section 23
  24. Section 24
  25. Section 25
  26. Section 26
  27. Section 27
  28. Section 28
  29. Section 29
  30. Section 30
  31. Section 31
  32. Section 32
  33. Section 33
  34. Section 34
  35. Section 35
  36. Section 36
  37. Section 37
  38. Section 38
  39. Section 39
  40. Section 40
  41. Section 41
  42. Section 42
  43. Section 43
  44. Section 44
  45. Section 45
  46. Section 46
  47. Section 47
  48. Section 48
  49. Section 49
  50. Section 50
  51. Section 51
  52. Section 52
  53. Section 53
  54. Section 54
  55. Section 55
  56. Section 56
  57. Section 57
  58. Section 58
  59. Section 59
  60. Section 60
  61. Section 61
  62. Section 62
  63. Section 63
  64. Section 64
  65. Section 65
  66. Section 66
  67. Section 67
  68. Section 68

Concepts covered

Historical context

The world around the text

The corpus manifests do not yet establish the precise place and circumstances of composition. The images below document the author’s world or the text’s transmission. They do not claim to show the exact scene of writing.

These are modern reconstructions. They situate a documented place, practice, or transmission and are not period documents.

Modern reconstruction of Rome? for Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned on Prokopton42.com
Rome?Another proposed context; the biography remains exceptionally uncertain. The generated scene uses Rome? and 2nd-3rd century CE as its documented anchors.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Sextus Empiricus
Modern reconstruction of Material world: agriculture and food, 212 CE for Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned on Prokopton42.com
Material world: agriculture and food, 212 CEThe Constitutio Antoniniana grants Roman citizenship to most free inhabitants of the Empire. The image situates Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned without claiming to show its scene of composition.
Modern reconstruction of Nearby historical landmark, 212 CE for Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned on Prokopton42.com
Nearby historical landmark, 212 CEThe Constitutio Antoniniana grants Roman citizenship to most free inhabitants of the Empire. The image situates Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned without claiming to show its scene of composition.

What the world looked like

Roman world, 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE

Modern reconstruction of the material world around Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned: Technology, science, and care
Technology, science, and carePaved roads, aqueducts, concrete, glassware, mills, and hypocaust heating equip some cities, but energy comes mainly from bodies, animals, water, and wood. Astronomy, geometry, natural history, and engineering compile Greek, Egyptian, and Roman knowledge. Measurement exists without a modern laboratory. Physicians, midwives, baths, plants, and rudimentary surgery can help; reliable anaesthesia, antisepsis, and antibiotics do not exist.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned: Travel and communication
Travel and communicationOn foot, horseback, cart, or ship, road and sea networks connect the Empire. Travel remains slow, costly, and risky. Imperial couriers, letters on papyrus or tablets, inscriptions, and oral proclamations spread information. Everything is copied by hand.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned: Farming and food
Farming and foodGrain, vines, olives, pulses, and livestock supply cities and armies; estates, slavery, and tenancy organize part of the labour.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the Learned: Clothing, women and men
Clothing, women and menTunics and cloaks are common to both sexes; the stola, toga, footwear, colours, and jewellery mark citizenship, office, wealth, and origin.
State of technology
Paved roads, aqueducts, concrete, glassware, mills, and hypocaust heating equip some cities, but energy comes mainly from bodies, animals, water, and wood.
Science and knowledge
Astronomy, geometry, natural history, and engineering compile Greek, Egyptian, and Roman knowledge. Measurement exists without a modern laboratory.
Medicine and care
Physicians, midwives, baths, plants, and rudimentary surgery can help; reliable anaesthesia, antisepsis, and antibiotics do not exist.
Transport
On foot, horseback, cart, or ship, road and sea networks connect the Empire. Travel remains slow, costly, and risky.
Agriculture and food
Grain, vines, olives, pulses, and livestock supply cities and armies; estates, slavery, and tenancy organize part of the labour.
Communication
Imperial couriers, letters on papyrus or tablets, inscriptions, and oral proclamations spread information. Everything is copied by hand.
Clothing and fashion
Tunics and cloaks are common to both sexes; the stola, toga, footwear, colours, and jewellery mark citizenship, office, wealth, and origin.

Editions, translations, and provenance

The following carriers represent the text. They do not create new passage identities.

  • Ancient Greekoriginal
  • English AI-generated translation, non-officialCodex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11
  • French AI-generated translation, non-officialCodex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11

Source manifests: sextus_empiricus.against_professors

Reader

Read page by page

Against the Professors, Books I-VI of Against the LearnedSextus Empiricus

Before reading

What you will learn

Open the full record