Retrieving Knowledge: A Socratic Response to Skepticism

Retrieving Knowledge: A Socratic Response to Skepticism is an exercise in retrieval philosophy, using philosophical principles from the past to address contemporary challenges. The book begins with first philosophy's search for a logos, a source of explanation of the order and rationality in the world, and the failure to ground the logos in being. The story picks up with the skepticism of the Sophists and Socrates' attempt to address the epistemological and metaphysical sources of the skepticism of his day in Plato's dialogue Theaetetus. Through this dialogue, we come to grapple with the definition of knowledge and the problems inherent with first philosophy's materialism. Knowledge is defined as a true belief with a logos (or an account). The theme of the logos is continued from first philosophy to Socrates and then to the Modern period of philosophy where we encounter a similar skepticism that Socrates addresses, a skepticism arising from metaphysical naturalism and empiricism. The moderate naturalism and empiricism of the Modern philosophers become the radical naturalism and empiricism of Nietzsche and the post-Nietzschean philosophers. The radical naturalism and empiricism of the post-Nietzschean philosophers lead to a contemporary negative nihilism carried out by the continental postmodernists, and a positive nihilism carried out by the Pragmatists and the "willing out beyond" of new values after Nietzsche's transvaluation of all values. Retrieval of the arguments of Socrates from the Theaetetus is used to address contemporary skepticism in the same way that Socrates addressed the skepticism of his day. Post-Nietzschean philosophy poses challenges beyond what Socrates faced; thus, a new direction for the future of philosophy is needed. The epilogue provides a blueprint for how the original search for the logos as the heart of philosophy may continue today.

"I wholeheartedly recommend this book by Kelly Fitzsimmons Burton. It continues, but moves in a much-needed different direction of "public philosophy," defense of the classical Western philosophical tradition of Socratic sense rationality. If your library already includes books by intellectuals like Chesterton, Lewis, Adler, Gilson, Maritain, and Schall, add this work to it. You will not regret doing so."

Peter A. Redpath

Senior Fellow

Center for the Study of The Great Ideas

"'They will love what you love" and take it further. Kelly Fitzsimmons Burton, a former student and now colleague, has retrieved the logos doctrine from Plato's Theaetetus and applied it to post-modern skepticism originating in Nietzsche. She is opening the door out of the current impasse in philosophy. The light of reason/logos shows the way out."

Surrendra Gangadean

Professor Emeritus, Philosophy, Paradise Valley Community College

"Contemporary philosophy works in the futility of skepticism and fideism. This false dichotomy leads to meaninglessness as knowledge of basic things is left unanswered. Dr. Kelly Fitzsimmons Burton is a friend and colleague that has provided us with a work addressing this problem. By retrieving the concept of the logos and applying it to contemporary epistemology she points us toward the role of reason in knowledge and especially in knowing what is clear at the basic level. Retrieving Knowledge illuminates for us the dire consequences of skepticism on our culture and our need to answer basic questions. This is a unique and grounding breaking work doing what needs to be done in our day and is therefore indispensable for all interested in philosophy."

Owen Anderson

Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Arizona State University

"Retrieving Knowledge is a prime example of what it means to regard work in the history of philosophy and the doing of philosophy as parts of a "seamless whole," as the author invokes the ideas and arguments of the ancients--Socrates, in particular--to address critical philosophical concerns of our own day."

Mark D. Linville
Senior Research Fellow and Philosophy Tutor, Department of Humanities Ph.D. Program, Faulkner University