Augustine and Academic Skepticism: A Philosophical Study

Among the most important, but frequently neglected, figures in the history of debates over skepticism is Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE). His early dialogue, Against the Academics, together with substantial material from his other writings, constitutes a sustained attempt to respond to the tradition of skepticism with which he was familiar. This was the tradition of Academic skepticism, which had its home in Plato's Academy and was transmitted to the Roman world through the writings of Cicero (106-43 BCE). Augustine and Academic Skepticism is the first comprehensive treatment of Augustine's critique of Academic skepticism. In clear and accessible prose, Blake D. Dutton presents that critique as a serious work of philosophy and engages with it precisely as such. While Dutton provides an extensive review of Academic skepticism and Augustine's encounter with it, his primary concern is to articulate and evaluate Augustine's strategy to discredit Academic skepticism as a philosophical practice and vindicate the possibility of knowledge against the Academic denial of that possibility. In doing so, he sheds considerable light on Augustine's views on philosophical inquiry and the acquisition of knowledge.

About the Author :
Blake D. Dutton is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.

Review :
"Augustine's main work against the 'Academic' skeptics is Contra Academicos, written shortly after his conversion to Christianity. Blake D. Dutton judiciously supplements his dissection of this work with a consideration of other pertinent texts. As Dutton points out, it was important to Augustine to refute this kind of skepticism because the Academics claimed that the happy life could be achieved only by one's suspending judgment on all matters, a claim that is implausible on its face and inimical to Christian faith. Dutton nicely provides the historical and philosophical background against which Augustine's campaign is carried out. Augustine is Dutton's protagonist, but Dutton is perceptive enough to see that his hero has not succeeded in banishing the foe entirely from the field and honest enough to explain where the vulnerabilities lie. One of the most salient virtues of Augustine and Academic Skepticism is fairness to both sides, a fairness that manifests itself in the care with which Dutton presents and appraises arguments, alternative readings, and intelligent conjectures about what might have been said but wasn't. The relevance of this excellent book to the field of epistemology extends well beyond late patristic studies."-William E. Mann, University of Vermont, author of God, Modality, and Morality "Questions about the epistemic, practical, and moral implications of skepticism matter crucially to Augustine. For the same reason, such questions figure prominently in his writings throughout his career. In this book, Dutton offers a comprehensive and lucid exploration of Augustine's wide-ranging critique of Academic skepticism. His treatment is historically and textually informed as well as philosophically engaging. The book is a valuable contribution both to the scholarship on Augustine's philosophy and to debates about the merits of skepticism generally."-Susan Brower-Toland, Saint Louis University