Virtue Epistemology

<b>A collection of essential readings that chart the development of a diverse and flourishing field.</b><p>Virtue epistemology is a diverse and flourishing field one of the most exciting developments in epistemology to emerge over the last three decades. Virtue epistemology begins with the premise that epistemology is a normative discipline and accordingly a central task of epistemology is to explain the sort of normativity that knowledge justified belief and the like involve. A second premise is that a focus on the intellectual virtues (individual intellectual excellences) is essential to carrying out this central task. This collection offers some of the most influential and agenda-setting work at the heart of virtue epistemology's research program. Taken together they will equip the reader to enter the ongoing discussion and debate in the field.</p><p>The selections range from seminal contributions by Ernest Sosa who introduced the notion of intellectual virtue into the contemporary literature to a study of epistemic justice that draws on <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> and<i> The Talented Mr. Ripley.</i> The readings include overviews of the field that also serve to advance the discussion; investigations of the nature of knowledge; reflections on the value of knowledge; examinations of credit and luck; and explorations of future directions for research.</p>