He began studying chemistry at the Hebrew University and a year later switched to philosophy. In 1964, he completed his undergraduate studies with a teaching certificate. He was one of the last students of Hugo Bergmann. In 1967, he completed a master's degree with honors in Philosophy, his thesis "On the epistemological significance of Plato's theory of ideal numbers," under the instruction of Shlomo Pines. In 1969-1971 he studied classics at King's College at Cambridge University. His dissertation topic 'Plato's method of hypothesis in Plato's middle dialogues' under the instruction of Bernard Williams.

In 1974-2010 Scolnicov was a faculty member in the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Philosophy of Education at the School of Education in the Hebrew University. In 1989 he was a founding member of the International Association of Plato and in 1998-2001 served as president of the Association. In 1973-1991 he was a member and chairman of the Planning Commission studying philosophy in high school. Was a guest lecturer at Harvard University, Cambridge University, University of Toronto, University of California, Irvine, University of Sao Paulo.