ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors present three empirically informed accounts of how virtues can be developed, and assess the merits of these accounts when applied specifically to intellectual (or epistemic) virtues. It considers some proposals on virtue development that have been put forward by theorists whose work is informed by psychology. The chapter then explains and assesses an account of virtue development that is compatible with that model. Matt Stichter suggests that this account of skill development is also plausible in the case of virtue development. On this account, a novice in virtue will start out by following simple rules. It is also possible to apply this account of virtue development to intellectual virtues, such as intellectual humility. Plausibly, intellectual humility involves being able to recognize and respond appropriately to one's cognitive limitations.
