The Refutation of Scepticism by A.C. Grayling

Philosophical scepticism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_skepticism) comes in a variety of flavours and strengths and is strongly represented in the classical period. It is time well spent to pick out the various strands.

The best recent rebuttal I’ve read is from the pen of public intellectual and prolific author Anthony (‘A.C.’) Grayling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._C._Grayling) in a 1985 publication The Refutation of Scepticism‘.

Put succinctly his argument is that radical scepticism is ultimately self-defeating. Enjoy for yourself the sure footed steps by which he advances upon this conclusion. Life may seem a deal more reliable when you’re done. Enquire at your local library or available at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Refutation-Scepticism-C-Grayling/dp/0715619225/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418769213&sr=1-2&keywords=refutation+of+scepticism

For a background on the history of scepticism in human thought, listen to the BBC Radio 4 ‘In Our Time’ 43 minute episode on the subject. Available from the link  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kblc3  With Peter Millican – Professor of Philosophy at Hertford College, Oxford; Melissa Lane Professor of Politics at Princeton University; and Jill Kraye Professor of the History of Renaissance Philosophy and Librarian at the Warburg Institute, University of London. Chaired by Melvyn Bragg. First broadcast Thursday 5 Jul 2012.

160 pages in Gerald Duckworth and Co. Ltd.

First published 1985

ISBN 978-0715619223

A.C. Grayling – having securely refuted scepticism 

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