Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous

by W. Jay Wood

Overview

How do we know what we know? What have wisdom, prudence and studiousness to do with justifying our beliefs? Jay Wood begins this introduction to epistemology by taking an extended look at the idea of knowing within the context of the intellectual virtues. He then surveys current views of foundationalism, epistemic justification and reliabilism. Finally he examines the relationship of epistemology to religious belief, and the role of emotions and virtues in proper cognitive functioning Professors will find this text, with its many examples drawn from everyday student experience, especially useful in introducing students to the formal study of epistemology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780877845225
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	09/09/1998
Series:	Contours of Christian Philosophy
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	944,258
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

W. Jay Wood (Ph.D., Notre Dame) is professor in the philosophy department at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.

Table of Contents

Preface

1 The Nature of Epistemology
1.1 When Do Epistemological Questions Arise?
1-2 Epistemology and the Pursuit of Intellectual Virtues
1.3 The Christian and Intellectual Virtues
1.4 Doing Epistemology As If Virtue Mattered
1.5 Is Everyone Called to Pursue the Intellectual Virtues?

2 Exploring the Intellectual Virtues
2.1 Types of Intellectual Virtue
2.2 The Structure of Intellectual Virtues
2-3 Epistemology, Virtue and Responsibility

3 An Extended Look at Some Intellectual Virtues
3.1 Sudiousness and Vicious Curiosity
3.2 Intellectual Honesty and Dishonesty
3.3 Wisdom and Folly
3.4 The Relationship Between Ancient and Modern and Contemporary

4 Foundationalism
4.1 The Motivation for Foundationalsim
4.2 The Rudiments of Foundationalism
4.3 Strong Foundationalism
4.4 Problems with Strong Foundationalism
4.5 Modest Foundationalism

5 Epistemic Justification
5.1 Evidentialism
5.2 Coherentism
5.3 Kieth Lehrer's Coherence Theory

6 Reliabilism
6.1 Objections to Reliabilism
6.2 Virtue Epistemology and the Internalism-Externalism Debate

7 Epistemology Religious Belief
7.1 Internalism and the Justification of Theism
7.2 Externalism and the Justification of Theism
7.3 Reformed Epistemology

8 The Role of Emotions Virtues in Proper Cognitive Functioning
8.1 How Emotions Assist Good Thinking
8.2 Emotions, Intellectual Virtues and Religious Belief
8.3 Transformative Emotional Experiences

Suggestions for Further Reading

Notes

Names Index

Subject Index