Epistemic 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.
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From the Intellectual to the Political
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780192561640
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Vendor
OUP Oxford
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter