Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

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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INSIGHT

Political Epistemology

  • Epistemology, the study of knowledge, can be dry and abstract.
  • Applying it to real-world issues, like politics, makes it more practical.
INSIGHT

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.
INSIGHT

Blame and Control

  • Blaming someone for intellectual vices implies they can control them.
  • This raises questions about free will and character trait alteration.
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