Carneades (; , "of
Carnea"; 214/3–129/8 BC) was an
Academic skeptic born in
Cyrene. By the year 159 BC, he had started to refute all previous dogmatic doctrines, especially
Stoicism, and even the
Epicureans whom previous skeptics had spared. As head of the
Academy, he was one of three philosophers sent to
Rome in 155 BC where his lectures on the uncertainty of
justice caused consternation among the leading politicians. He left no writings and many of his opinions are known only via his successor
Clitomachus. He seems to have doubted the ability, not just of the
senses but of
reason too, in acquiring
truth. His skepticism was, however, moderated by the belief that we can, nevertheless, ascertain probabilities of truth, to enable us to live and act correctly.