Epistemology: 17.Objections to Virtue Epistemology Flashcards
What does it mean for knowledge to arise ‘as a result of exercising an intellectual virtue’? What might be an objection to this?
-It suggests that knowledge is gained through the proper application of intellectual virtues.
-One objection is that it makes knowledge difficult to identify, as we may not know if we exercised our virtues ‘properly’.
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What is the problem of circularity within virtue ethics generally?
-How can we gain the virtues if we can’t identify the virtues, and how can we identify the virtues if we do not have them to know what they are?
-Similarly, how can we identify who the virtious people are if we do not know what they would act like?
- Do we identify virtious people because of their virtious acts, or do we identify the virtious acts because of the virtious people?
Can children and animals exercise intellectual virtues?
-It seems difficult to assert that they do, as they may not be motivated by intellectual virtues in the same way adults are.
- Zagzebski argues that they must exercise virtues correctly to form knowledge.
What does Zagzebski suggest about children and animals in relation to knowledge? and why they have knowledge?
-They may form true beliefs due to their curiosity, even if they are not fully responsible for their intellectual virtues.
-The key sign of responsible intellectual virtues is actively seeking out knowledge.
What is the objection to Zagzebski regarding motives and knowledge?
-If someone is rarely motivated to care for the truth, but on an occasion, out of character, they carefully research some topic – do they have knowledge?
-The objection is whether motives matter if the activity reliably produces true belief.
-Zagzebski would argue that without the right intentions, one does not possess the virtue needed for knowledge.
What is the potential weakness of Virtue Responsibilism? And a reponce
-It may be seen as weaker if one believes that motives should not matter in gaining knowledge.
-Zagzebski insists that virtues must be intentionally trained to be praiseworthy.
What is the objection to Sosa regarding the stability of reliable intellectual virtues?
-The objection questions whether reliable virtues can be stable across different scenarios.
- The fake barn county example illustrates that situations can affect the reliability of processes.
How does Sosa respond to the objection about stable reliable virtues?
-Sosa argues that having a virtue includes knowing when and how to use it appropriately in various scenarios.
-This means that virtues do not compete and are not limited to specific actions.
Use A and B in order to explain the circularity fallacy
If A then B. If B then A
