Skepticism and Political Participation

"These essays are a wonderful treat: for their originality, philosophical breadth, and their contribution to democratic theory. Botwinick makes a sophisticated and fascinating case for extreme skepticism and supplying the best arguments for a participatory and egalitarian society. The work is full of endless surprises, of unusual juxtapositions, e.g. of Lyotard and Maimonides, and original readings of Machiavelli, Wittgenstein, Foucault, and others. In addition to being philosophically exacting, the work is notable for its attempt to bring postmodern thinking into political and theoretical focus. It is a humanistic work of a very high order." --Sheldon S. Wolin, Professor of Politics Emeritus, Princeton University "This strong and important work explores the political implications of a radical epistemological skepticism in an eloquent and cogent manner. It inserts itself squarely into contemporary philosophical trends: the abandonment of 'foundationalism' and the rise of neopragmatism. There are two unique an unusual qualities to the book: first, it focuses on the political dimensions of epistemology--a dimension commonly neglected in the literature; second, Botwinick relies both on Anglo-American arguments (from Quine to the later Wittgenstein) and on Continental philosophy (from Nietzsche to Foucault)--something rarely done in other works." --Fred Dallmayr, Packui Dee Professor of Government, University of Notre Dame