Putting Theory in Its Place: Leite, Epistemological Theorizing, and the Refutation of Skepticism

In his excellent book, Adam Leite argues that we can give a “fully satisfactory refutation” of Cartesian skepticism without epistemological theory. Here Leite claims to be defending the tradition of Moore, Austin, and Wittgenstein against the dominant methodology of contemporary epistemology. This essay clarifies Leite’s thesis and the anti-theoretical methodology that he recommends, and then argues for the necessity of epistemological theorizing in a philosophically satisfactory refutation of skepticism. In effect, there are two central issues before us. First, what does “epistemological theorizing” or “development of an epistemological theory” amount to? Second, what would constitute a philosophically satisfactory refutation of the kind of skepticism that Leite’s analysis targets?