

61 | Quassim Cassam on Intellectual Vices and What to Do About Them
Aug 26, 2019
Quassim Cassam, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick and author of "Vices of the Mind," delves into the nature and implications of intellectual vices like closed-mindedness and wishful thinking. He discusses their impact on decision-making, illustrated through historical examples like the Iraq War. Cassam emphasizes the importance of accountability in our beliefs, critiques the rising tide of misinformation in politics, and highlights self-reflection as a tool to recognize and mitigate personal biases.
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Political Epistemology
- Epistemology, the study of knowledge, can be dry and abstract.
- Applying it to real-world issues, like politics, makes it more practical.
Vices vs. Biases
- Intellectual vices are not just cognitive biases; they're blameworthy.
- They're personal traits hindering truth-seeking, unlike biases, which may be universal.
Blame and Control
- Blaming someone for intellectual vices implies they can control them.
- This raises questions about free will and character trait alteration.