Sextus describes scepticism as “an ability, or mental attitude,
[which opposes appearances to judgements (in any way whatsoever),][1]
{with the result that(, owing to the equipollence of the objects and reasons thus opposed,) we are brought [firstly to a state of mental suspense] and [next to a state of ‘unperturbedness’ or quietude.]}{2}”
首先全句整体结构很简单： Sextus describes A as B. 他把A视作B.
A=scepticism
B="引号内所有内容"；而B的中心是[an ability, or mental attitude],后面有：(which)定语从句[1] & (with)状语从句{2}.
拆开来看.
【1】
which opposes appearances to judgements (in any way whatsoever)
说将表面现象与判断标准对立,并以任何方式.
[oppose sth to/against sth] [文语] 使某事物与另一事物对照或对抗:
Do not oppose your will against mine. 不要用你的意愿和我的抗衡.
[whatsoever] = whatever 语气更强一些.
【2】
with the result that【3】we are brought [firstly to a state of mental suspense][4] and [next to a state of ‘unperturbedness’ or quietude.][5]
a).首先,result后面that接了一个同位语从句,描述result.具体就是which...那一句的做法所引出的结果.
而【3】owing to是个伴随状语,两个逗号插入中间捣乱,先不看.
b).先看它后面的that从句.
主谓在we are brought这里.说我们被先后带入两种境界：即[4]&[5],你可以注意到这确实是平行结构,[firstly] [to a state of ...] and [next] [to a state of...]; 大意理解为“先感觉不安,后来安心了”
c).回过头来看前面的状语【3】.
[owing to the equipollence of the objects and reasons (thus opposed)]
owing to 功能等于介词,后面的宾语是equipollence,均等；
均等的两件事(equipollence of...and...)是：[objects] and [reasons] (thus opposed).其中thus = so. thus opposed 也就是[如此对立].对立又相等,意思应该是僵持不下的对抗冲突.
最后归纳一下,按扩句形式来使之清晰：
[step1]Sextus describes scepticism as “an ability, or mental attitude.
[step2]Sextus describes scepticism as “an ability, or mental attitude [which opposes appearances to judgements in any way whatever].
[step3]Sextus describes scepticism as “... [which...].,with the result that we are brought to two states.
[step4]同位语从句在that后加上原因状语[owing to...],并将two states分别作描述,换成and形式的并列结构.
【Sextus describes scepticism as “ A, which..., with the result that (owing to...) we are brought firstly... and next...”】
除此之外最重要的事情是,要知道他在说些神马.背景知识：
Sextus Empiricus塞克斯都·恩披里柯
罗马帝国时期的希腊哲学家、医生,怀疑论者.是古代怀疑论的最后一个代表.哲学著作：①《皮浪学说要旨》 3卷；②《驳独断论者》5卷；③《驳教师》 6卷.《驳独断论者》和《驳教师》又合称《驳数学家》.恩披里柯的著作记载了古代怀疑论者的主张以及他们对各派学说的反驳,是研究古代哲学的重要史料.书中所主张的怀疑论是没落阶级灰心失望的反映.
这些书中指出：人的各种感觉互相矛盾,各种思想互相矛盾,感觉又与思想互相矛盾；不同哲学家的意见互相冲突.所谓自明的公理其实只是假设,其反面同样是可能的,因此真理是得不到的,这些冲突矛盾只能使人烦恼,只有采取怀疑态度,不作任何判断,杜绝一切信仰,才能得到安宁.
资料来源：http://www.china001.com/show_hdr.php?xname=PPDDMV0&dname=Q059G41&xpos=27
【翻译】
塞克图斯认为,怀疑主义是这样的一种智慧或思维：
它让人看清表面感知与正确判断无处不在的矛盾,结果当发觉客体存在与理性思考的对峙,我们起初陷入精神上的困境,而此阶段之后则拨云见雾,上升至一种蛋定与超脱的境界.
