Intellectual Autonomy and Intellectual Interdependence

This chapter argues that the traits of intellectual autonomy and interdependence need not be intellectual virtues. It offers sketches of the traits of intellectual autonomy and intellectual interdependence as dispositions to think for oneself, and to think with others, respectively. It argues that these traits won’t be intellectual virtues when they are had to excess – when agents are intellectually autonomous or interdependent to a fault. To be intellectual virtues, agents must rein in such excesses, but without over-correcting. This, arguably, requires good judgment. Even so, the resulting dispositions to think for oneself appropriately, and to think with others appropriately, can still fail to be intellectual virtues. For these dispositions to be intellectual virtues, they must also be grounded in motivations for epistemic goods.