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Summary

In this chapter we have dealt with intellectual virtues and vices – character traits and attitudes that influence our thinking and our intellectual exchange with others.

We have learned:

  • Intellectual virtues are character traits that promote good thinking and help us to acquire and share knowledge. The most important ones include intellectual curiosity, humility, autonomy, integrity, perseverance, fairness, courage and empathy.
  • Intellectual vices are traits that hinder our thinking and keep us from acquiring knowledge and understanding. These include intellectual arrogance, laziness, cowardice, dishonesty, narrow-mindedness, impatience, egocentrism and conformity.
  • Epoché and productive doubt are important practices for critical thinking. Epoché denotes the art of suspending judgement, while productive doubt serves as a tool for deeper understanding, in contrast to unproductive doubt, which results in cynicism or paralysis.
  • Self-criticism and intellectual development are essential components of cultivating intellectual virtues. Constructive self-criticism focuses on specific thinking processes or beliefs and aims at growth and improvement. Intellectual development is a lifelong process that encompasses becoming aware, intention, practice, integration and continuous further development.
  • Intellectual virtues in communities are crucial for productive discussions, effective problem-solving and intellectual growth. They can be fostered in various contexts such as educational institutions, work environments and public discourse, but must also overcome obstacles such as group polarisation, groupthink, status dynamics, as well as time pressure and an orientation towards efficiency.

Cultivating intellectual virtues and overcoming intellectual vices is important not only for academic or philosophical purposes, but has practical effects on our daily lives, our decisions and our relationships with others. Through conscious effort and continuous reflection, we can develop our intellectual character traits and become better thinkers and communication partners.