Around 300 BC, Greek philosopher Pyrrho founded the school of skepticism known as Pyrrhonism, advocating for the suspension of judgment (epoche) as a means to achieve mental tranquility. His teachings emphasized the importance of questioning beliefs and perceptions, encouraging followers to seek peace through doubt. Pyrrho's philosophy significantly influenced later philosophical thought, particularly in the development of epistemology and the nature of knowledge.

Pyrrho's founding of skepticism introduced a profound questioning of truth that influenced poets like John Keats and T.S. Eliot. The skeptical and ironic modes of expression became central to Hellenistic and modernist poetry, encouraging a deeper exploration of existential themes.