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Curiosity as an Epistemic Virtue

  • Book
  • © 2020

Overview

Authors:
  1. Nenad Miščević

    1. Philosophy, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

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  • Explores curiosity from a normative epistemological viewpoint
  • Identifies curiosity as a positive and vital character trait
  • Defends the idea that curiosity motivates and organises our cognitive abilities, playing the central role in our cognitive lives

Part of the book series: Palgrave Innovations in Philosophy (PIIP)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
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  2. Understanding Curiosity

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Introduction

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 3-15

    3. History: How It All Started

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 17-36

    4. Nature and Kinds of Curiosity

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 37-57

  3. The Central Role of Curiosity

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 59-59
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    2. Is Curiosity a Virtue?

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 61-78

    3. The Motivating Virtue Account

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 79-93

    4. Defending the Motivating Virtue Account

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 95-109

    5. Epistemic Value

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 111-141

  4. Applications and Widenings

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 143-143
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    2. Cognitive Psychology of Curiosity

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 145-161

    3. The Curiosity of Science

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 163-190

    4. Self-inquisitiveness: The Structure and Role of an Epistemic Virtue

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 191-225

    5. Conclusion and Tasks Ahead

      • Nenad Miščević
      Pages 227-251

  5. Back Matter

    Pages 253-268
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Keywords

About this book

This book explores curiosity from a normative epistemological viewpoint. Taking into account recent developments in the psychology of curiosity, as well as research on the nature and motivation of scientific inquiry, Miščević identifies curiosity as a positive and vital character trait. Key topics covered include:

·       Curiosity as a subject in the history of philosophy

·       Curiosity as a possible ethical virtue

·       The importance of curiosity about oneself

·       Whether curiosity is good in itself or only as a means to an end (e.g. in the pursuit of truth).

The book begins with a brief historical overview, before turning to the nature of curiosity from both a psychological and philosophical viewpoint. Curiosity is revealed as a crucial instrument in the advancement of science and wisdom, as well as within the wider picture of meaningful human life. Miščević skilfully defends the idea that curiosity motivates and organises our cognitive abilities, playing the central role in our cognitive lives.



Authors and Affiliations

  • Philosophy, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

    Nenad Miščević

About the author

Nenad Miščević is Full Professor of Philosophy at the University of Maribor, Slovenia, and Visiting Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the Central European University, Budapest. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Curiosity as an Epistemic Virtue

  • Authors: Nenad Miščević

  • Series Title: Palgrave Innovations in Philosophy

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57103-0

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-57102-3Published: 09 November 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-57105-4Published: 10 November 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-57103-0Published: 08 November 2020

  • Series ISSN: 2946-2851

  • Series E-ISSN: 2946-286X

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 268

  • Number of Illustrations: 14 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Epistemology, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind

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