HENDERSONVILLE — Dr. Brian Butler, chairman of the UNC Asheville Philosophy Department for which he also is a professor, was literally steaming, following Richard L. Kranker’s Nov. 11 lecture from a staunchly conservative perspective that ripped liberals and liberalism in starkly absolutist terms.

Butler criticized Kranker for failing to recognize the different streams of conservative thought in his presentation.

“You did (John) Locke, basically,” the professor asserted. Specifically, he lamented that Kranker failed to mentioned the ideas of 17th century British philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who “didn’t do religion” in his branch of conservative thought.

Butler contended that Kranker’s lecture shows that he is missing the point, inasmuch as “the whole idea of philosophy is love of wisdom ... Socrates ‘knew’ that he didn’t know.”

Kranker’s certitude in his presentation seemed to leave no space for inquiry, Butler lamented, noting that, in contrast, “I think Socrates would try to blow holes in arguments” in a never-ending quest for the truth and wisdom.

Moreover, “On the dilution of education, I think the students of UNCA run circles around me, doing 10 times what I did” during his time as a student, Butler asserted.