Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c8.25

c8.25

(152) When we consider this historical background, it is only to be expected that the Sceptics should appear at this time. In the Sūtrakṛtāṅga, they are called the 'annāṇiyā' (Skr. ajñānikāḥ), i e. the 'ignorant ones' or 'sceptics' or 'those who deny knowledge' (*v. supra*, 147), translated as 'agnostics' by Jacobi (SBE., Vol. 45, pp. 241, 315). They are mentioned in a few places (Sū. 1.¹.2.17, 1.6.27, 1.21.1-2, 2.2 79) and are considered one of the four important schools of thought. But the information given about them in the texts themselves is meagre. It is said that 'the speculations (vīmamsā) of the Sceptics do not land them in ignorance (as they ought to), when they cannot instruct themselves in the truth (param), how can they instruct others' (annāṇiyāṇaṃ vīmamsā annāne na viniyacchaī, appaṇo ya param nālaṃ, kuto annānusāsıuṃ), Sū. 1.1.2.17). Jacobi translates annāne na viniyacchaī, as 'cannot lead to knowledge' (*op. cit.*, p. 241) but this is not supported by the text or the commentary. Even if we translate, na vi-niyacchaī (Skr. na vi-niyacchati) as 'cannot lead to', annāne (Skr.