Jay Wood's "Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous" and Christian counseling

Epistemology

Critical Review of Jay Wood's "Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous."

In his work Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous Jay Wood embarks on a journey to discover what it means to know something. In the review below we explore the importance of living an intellectually superior life, which ultimately Wood describes as a life that involves selecting the right things to care about and paying attention to ones emotions and virtues, which ultimately ensure proper cognitive functioning. These ideas are applied to a Christian counseling viewpoint for each of the chapters reviewed in Wood's book. Wood acknowledges the virtue of believing in God and using this belief as a compass if you will toward discovering the truth in all matters.

Book Review

Chapter 1

In Chapter 1 Wood explores when epistemological question arise, the nature of epistemology and pursuit of intellectual virtues, Christian and intellectual virtues and the pursuit of intellectual virtues. Wood focuses on qualities including wisdom, understanding and love of the truth in this chapter, suggesting that these qualities are anchored in the minds of those who succeed in their intellectual endeavors. Embracing such virtues according to Wood will result in ones ability to lead an exceptional life. Epistemological issues arise when we take the time to question where our beliefs come from and what are beliefs are. Any time we criticize a belief or thought we fall into an epistemological mindset. Causes we devote ourselves to according to Wood force us to examine epistemological questions.

Reflections on Chapter 1

This chapter is important to Christian counselors as it causes them to question their faith and consider whether their faith is "intellectually defensible" as Wood would suggest. Many epistemological questions arise when one takes a Christian vantage point. Much of society at large holds true a secular belief or attitude, thus many claims arising from Christian beliefs are subject to criticisms that can cause one to doubt their chosen path. However a Christian vantage point also enables greater motivation in my personal opinion to conduct oneself in a manner that is more motivating and positive, as wood would confirm. Wood encourages viewing epistemology from a virtue perspective, as this is a more Christian way to approach such questions.

Chapter 2

In chapter 2 the reader is called upon to explore the varying types of intellectual virtue, structure of intellectual virtues and the nature of epistemology, virtue and responsibility. Wood suggests that people acquire beliefs, work to maintain them, communicate our views and then apply our beliefs to help us solve problems and address intellectual situations. When pursued well this feat involves people calling on their intellectual virtues. Wood goes on to suggest that our intellectual traits may play a role in our intellectual lives and may vary depending on the circumstances people are presented with day-to-day. Virtues according to Wood are "well-anchored" and abide by our personalities and dispositions. When utilized positively they may enable interpretive sensitivity, "prudence" and a studious course of action as Wood descries.

Chapter 3

Wood discusses some specific intellectual virtues in Chapter 3 including wisdom and folly, studiousness, vicious curiosity, intellectual honesty and dishonesty. He also review modern and contemporary epistemological concerns. Wood suggests that some virtues are narrow in scope and thus can only be applied to limited circumstances. These include inquisitiveness and teachable ness according to Wood, which apply more to knowledge than anything else. Wood confirms that people have a natural desire to be inquisitive for example and our tendency to seek truth and avoid error.

Reflections Chapter 3

Perhaps the most relevant part of this Chapter I extracted is the notion that we must monitor our intentions when seeking knowledge. From a Christian perspective, a counselor will constantly seek knowledge and employ various methods to extract knowledge from people. According to Wood we must evaluate our intellectual pursuits to ensure they are virtuous, be aware of how we employ our mental "powers" to avoid serving as Wood describes "pernicious ends." We must also be sure we evaluate the importance according to Wood of any and all truths we do obtain so they are utilized wisely. This chapter is very insightful and encourages morality and virtue in all actions.

Chapter 4

Wood describes the concept of foundationalism in this chapter, including the rudiments of, strong foundationalism and problems associated with strong foundationalism. Foundationalism according to Wood is nothing more than the need we hall have to review and restructure our cognitive perceptions, beliefs and relations, a process referred to as epistemic justification. To increase ones chances of gaining truth and being justified or intellectually virtuous according to the author then individuals must manage their beliefs. This is accomplished by conscious evaluation and restructuring of beliefs to make things clear and to reveal insights into our lives.

Reflections Chapter 4

Here Wood makes clear to me the need to carefully review and recommend changes that are positive in nature. Identification of unclear or illogical thought patterns and the rationale behind them is vital to forming and shaping beliefs and interactions. Wood suggests that ideal ordering of cognitive perceptions is possible with foundationalism. The idea is very relevant, suggesting that without period evaluation of ones morals, beliefs, actions and environment true virtue or justification of ones epistemological beliefs is not possible. Just as a home or office many need periodic seasonal cleanings, so too do our cognitive belief systems.

Chapter 5

In this chapter Wood describes the idea of epistemic justification, covering evidentialism, coherentism and Keith Lehrer's coherence theory. Wood suggests that people fail to orient themselves correctly toward the truth by believing that their destiny is pre-arranged or that there are a number of factors that are out of control with respect to their moral or aesthetic beliefs. Wood encourages discovery of the sources of justification for ones beliefs. Lehrer's theory of coherence seems to suggest that personal justification is determined by the individual who must satisfy their need for beliefs to be rationally acceptable abased solely on their web of experiences in life. Being justified in ones beliefs according to this idea does not mean determining how ones beliefs fit with everyone else.

Reflections Chapter 5

As Wood points out it is vital that we work toward discovering true belief, and obtaining true belief requires that we are able to justify our beliefs. Support may be logical or based on evidentialism, the idea that one must have evidence to support ones belief. AT first glance this may challenge the Christian spirit, who often holds faith but lacks the concrete evidence necessary to justify ones beliefs and practices. However as Wood points out the notion of evidence is vague and somewhat open to interpretation.

More applicable seems the idea of coherence, that we adapt and shape our network of beliefs as we experience life. OF particularly interest here is Lehrer's theory which suggests that a Christian counselor may encourage one to justify one's beliefs to him or herself but not to others, because ones unique set of beliefs ultimately will decide whether a person is worthy or not of the truths and positive aspects of life. This point is very powerful and perhaps the most interesting of this chapter.

Chapter 6

In Chapter 6 Wood discusses the idea of reliabilism, objections to this idea and virtue epistemology and the internalism externalism debate. Reliabilism according to Wood shifts thinking about justification so instead of looking at justification from a subjective standpoint or first person objective one looks at it as an outside party or as a third person. Justification in this case then will depend on whether someone acquires a belief in a way that makes it most likely that they actually gained the truth.

There is however much criticism of this method of justification, suggesting that it is too difficult to determine what processes individuals can select as relevant when judging whether beliefs are reliably produced. The processes individuals select to determine whether something is just as subjective as using cohesivism or evidence based approaches to determine whether a belief or idea is justified or not. Wood also points out how great a debate exists as to whether justification can be internally or externally produced. Internalists tend to suggest that people may have introspective access to their justified beliefs.

Reflections Chapter 6

This chapter helps some up some of the ideas presented by Wood thus far, suggesting that some suggest success is related to reliability when tracking truth according to Wood, whereas others rely on adequate evidence to support their beliefs and still others suggest that beliefs must cohere with one another to be just and true. This chapter is very helpful in creating a foundation for ones own beliefs and principles. In my case I would suggest relaying on evidence based approach when working with others particularly in the counseling profession, as people are more likely to accept ones beliefs as valid and true when evidence supports them.

Chapter 7

In this chapter Wood goes into great detail discussing epistemology and religious beliefs. Here Wood begs the question whether believing in God is "compatible with living an excellent intellectual life." Here there is much disagreement. Wood suggests that while we may come to agreement on what standards must be applied to justify any belief, many disagree as to whether believing in God alone is enough to satisfy this belief.

In this chapter Wood attempts to bring together multiple insights, contrasting varying viewpoints. Wood supports the idea that a belief in God is an intellectually virtuous pursuit, and further argues that contemplating religious beliefs integrates multiple viewpoints and hence is the best way to go about justifying beliefs and seeking the truth.

Ultimately Wood comes to suggest those individuals concerns and the resulting emotions and virtues that arise from these concerns constitute a significant piece of our cognitive intellectual capacity.

Reflections Chapter 7

This chapter is very helpful in supporting the Christian counseling vantage point. In this chapter one finds support for belief in God as a virtuous endeavor and intellectually superior path that ultimately will reveal the truth related to all issues. Wood confirms the notion that one must rely on one's beliefs and may justify them by ensuring their concerns and the emotions that result are based on genuine desire to seek the truth and what's best for all involved.

Chapter 8

Here Wood concludes by further emphasizing the idea that to function properly individuals must pay clear attention to their emotions and any other aspects of their internal life including their disposition, will and moral character in order to successfully find truth and justice in all matters. In this chapter Wood focuses on the role of emotions and virtues related to cognitive functioning, suggesting the two are inextricably linked or paired with one another. Here Wood suggests that an optimally functioning cognitive ability is possible when one acknowledges their emotions and the role emotions play in virtuous decision-making.

Reflections Chapter 8

This chapter sums up Wood's reflections and work and provides the Christian counselor areas to explore in the future. Wood clearly suggests that one must be sure of their emotions and virtues in order to function in an intellectually superior manner. Here Wood suggests that a properly functioning mind is not one that is free of all cares or not aggravated by passions, but one rather that is trained to care about the correct things. This by very nature is the definition of what Christian counselors seek in their every day encounters. A counselor by nature must be trained not only to evaluate and recognize problematic areas but also care about the things that matter most, and will lead people to a virtuous and intellectually superior existence.

Reference:

Wood, J. (1998). Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous. Downers Grove, IL:

InterVarsity Press

Critical Review