Vices of the Mind: From the Intellectual to the PoliticalEpistemic vices are character traits, attitudes or thinking styles that prevent us from gaining, keeping or sharing knowledge. In this book, Quassim Cassam gives an account of the nature and importance of these vices, which include closed-mindedness, intellectual arrogance, wishful thinking, and prejudice. In providing the first extensive coverage of vice epistemology, an exciting new area of philosophical research, Vices of the Mind uses real examples drawn primarily from the world of politics to develop a compelling theory of epistemic vice. Cassam defends the view that as well as getting in the way of knowledge these vices are blameworthy or reprehensible. Key events such as the 2003 Iraq War and the 2016 Brexit vote, and notable figures including Donald Trump are analysed in detail to illustrate what epistemic vice looks like in the modern world. The traits covered in this landmark work include a hitherto unrecognised epistemic vice called 'epistemic insouciance'. Cassam examines both the extent to which we are responsible for our failings and the factors that make it difficult to know our own vices. If we are able to overcome self-ignorance and recognise our epistemic vices then is there is anything we can do about them? Vices of the Mind picks up on this concern in its conclusion by detailing possible self-improvement strategies and closing with a discussion of what makes some epistemic vices resistant to change. |
Contents
A Question of Character | |
Vicious Thinking | |
Epistemic Postures | |
Vice and Knowledge | |
Vice and Responsibility | |
Stealthy Vices | |
SelfImprovement | |
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answer argue arrogance attack attitude belief better bias biases blame blameworthy calls causes Chapter character traits character vices claims closed closed-mindedness cognitive conduct confident conspiracy contempt depends described desire detect discussion dispositions distinction doesn’t dogmatism effective epistemic insouciance epistemic malevolence epistemic vices evaluative evidence example experience explanation extent fact failings feel follow give given gullibility hard harmful idea ignorance implicit important improve incompetent individuals intellectual intelligence Iraq isn’t issue kind knowledge lack leads least less managerial control matter means mind moral motives nature notes notion obstacles one’s Oxford particular person position possible posture prejudice problem Psychology question reason recognize regard relation requires responsible result revision responsible self-improvement self-knowledge sense social someone stealthy strategies structural suggests suppose systematically theories thing thinking vices true truth understanding vicious virtues voluntary wishful thinking