INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES

Intellectual virtues might be viewed as ways of coping that are cognitively effective, a view however that would invite the question of just what might make a way of coping “cognitively effective.” According to my dictionary, “cognition” means “the act or process of knowing … also: a product of this act.” As for “effective,” it is said to mean “producing or capable of producing a result,” with an emphasis on “the actual production of or the power to produce an effect <effective thinking>.” Putting all this together, what makes a way of coping “cognitively effective” is its power to produce effects relating to or involving knowledge. But now look where that leaves us:

Thus we start with knowledge and return to it in a narrow circle.

For a more illuminating account we need to escape the circle.