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Epistemic autonomy: a criterion for virtue?

Epistemic autonomy: a criterion for virtue?
Epistemic autonomy: a criterion for virtue?
Catherine Elgin proposes a novel principle for identifying epistemic virtue. Based loosely on Kant’s Categorical Imperative, it identifies autonomy as our fundamental epistemic responsibility, and defines the epistemic virtues as those traits of character needed to exercise epistemic autonomy. I argue that Elgin’s principle fails as a criterion of epistemic virtue because the instrumental conception of autonomy on which it relies leads to an untenable relativism. Despite this, I suggest that autonomy may yet furnish a plausible criterion for epistemic virtue, provided we construe autonomy as Kant does, as grounded in categorical rather than instrumental reason.
autonomy, epistemic imperative, reflective endorsement, responsibility, virtue
1477-8785
153-165
Mudd, Sasha
104e14da-7e8c-49b0-a7fe-9853bddbb8c5
Mudd, Sasha
104e14da-7e8c-49b0-a7fe-9853bddbb8c5

Mudd, Sasha (2013) Epistemic autonomy: a criterion for virtue? Theory and Research in Education, 11 (2), 153-165. (doi:10.1177/1477878513485181).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Catherine Elgin proposes a novel principle for identifying epistemic virtue. Based loosely on Kant’s Categorical Imperative, it identifies autonomy as our fundamental epistemic responsibility, and defines the epistemic virtues as those traits of character needed to exercise epistemic autonomy. I argue that Elgin’s principle fails as a criterion of epistemic virtue because the instrumental conception of autonomy on which it relies leads to an untenable relativism. Despite this, I suggest that autonomy may yet furnish a plausible criterion for epistemic virtue, provided we construe autonomy as Kant does, as grounded in categorical rather than instrumental reason.

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e-pub ahead of print date: 20 May 2013
Published date: July 2013
Keywords: autonomy, epistemic imperative, reflective endorsement, responsibility, virtue
Organisations: Philosophy

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Local EPrints ID: 353041
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/353041
ISSN: 1477-8785
PURE UUID: 241a24d7-3c84-430e-b6d1-691a9422502b

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Date deposited: 28 May 2013 13:42
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 13:59

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Author: Sasha Mudd

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