Why this book?
- The first coherent theorization in virtue epistemology that links ethics and knowledge.
- Shows how intellectual virtues such as honesty, epistemic humility, and intellectual courage lead to knowledge.
- Uses literary and cinematic examples to explain abstract concepts and makes reading enjoyable.
- Offers an alternative to traditional epistemology that moves away from endless speculation about possible worlds.
- Has both theoretical value and practical guidance for cultivating a better intellectual character in everyday life.
About the book
Virtues of the Mind by Linda Zagzebski is one of the most important contemporary works in virtue epistemology. By linking moral philosophy and epistemology, the author presents an innovative theory about the role of intellectual virtues in the formation of cognition, justified beliefs, and the attainment of truth. Published in Iran with a translation by Amirhossein Khodaparast from Kargadan Publishing, this book is considered a reference work in analytic philosophy and has also been selected as Book of the Year of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the category of Western philosophy translation.
Zagzebski argues that correct knowledge does not depend solely on evidence, reasoning, or logical methods; rather, character traits and intellectual virtues also play a fundamental role. She introduces concepts such as intellectual honesty, epistemic humility, intellectual courage, fairness, precision, curiosity, and responsibility in thinking as mental virtues and shows that these traits are as important as moral virtues in human behavior. One of the book’s most important features is its systematic combination of virtue ethics with epistemology. While criticizing traditional approaches, the author provides a framework in which the character and personality of the thinker become the central focus of evaluating knowledge.