CHARACTER TRAITS OF EXCELLENT THINKERS

facilitated by Prof. Miguel García-Valdecasas

All of us would like to be remembered as good persons. But a good person has virtues of character: hard-wired dispositions to behave well in all circumstances. Some of these virtues are intellectual, in the sense that they concern how we nurture our intellect: the kind of information that we seek, what we do with it, and, especially, whether we use it toward our own flourishing and the flourishing of others.

In this seminar, we will discuss the importance of intellectual virtues and why we should pursue them. In the first session, we will look at Aristotle's notion of virtue and consider its contemporary relevance. In the second session, we will discuss specific intellectual virtues like autonomy, tenacity, courage, humility, or open-mindedness. We'll examine the contexts in which these virtues have the most value and consider how, by pursuing them, one can become a more proficient thinker.

This is a two-session seminar open to students and faculty. Register below by March 5th to participate in this seminar and receive recommended readings.

Date: Wednesdays, March 6 and 13, 2024

Time: 6:00 - 7:15pm

Location: Berkeley Institute (2134 Allston Way, 2nd floor)