Description
Book SynopsisCuriosity has taken a winding path through intellectual history, from Early Christian vice to Enlightenment virtue and beyond. This original volume sees contemporary philosophers and psychologists examining the nature and value of curiosity, shedding light on some of its most interesting features and exploring its role in human experience. Authors examine the nature and history of curiosity, the psychology of curiosity and its relationship to interest, understanding, and desire, the impact of language in shaping our curiosity, the cultivation and measurement of curiosity, and the vital part that curiosity can and should play in education. With perspectives on curiosity from all over the world, this diverse, interdisciplinary collection provides an in-depth and multi-faceted examination of the epistemological, psychological, moral, and educative dimensions of curiosity.
Trade ReviewWith this broad and diverse collection, the neglected topic of curiosity emerges as an essential topic for philosophy, psychology, and educational theory. From conceptual, empirical, normative, and historical perspectives, the contributors insightfully relate curiosity to representation, knowledge, motivation, character, virtue and vice, and education. The volume deserves the attention of all who would like to understand curiosity and see it fostered. -- Frederick F. Schmitt, Oscar R. Ewing Professor of Philosophy, Indiana University
The essays collected in this excellent volume make for a timely contribution to the growing literature on curiosity, epistemic value, and intellectual character. The contributors have been judiciously selected to represent a diverse range of disciplines and theoretical approaches, and their contributions provide fertile ground for cross-disciplinary and applied thinking about curiosity. The ideas and arguments articulated here are fresh, important, and worthy of serious study by both philosophers and psychologists interested in curiosity, as well as anyone interested in applied epistemology. -- Allan Hazlett, Assistant Professor, Philosophy, Washington University in St. Louis
Table of ContentsIntroduction / Part 1: Nature of Curiosity / 1. Interest, Questions, and Knowledge Kevin Mulligan / 2. Curiosity, Truth, and Knowledge Ilhan Inan / 3. Curiosity, Its Objects and Varieties Nenad Miščević / Part 2: Moral Dimensions of Curiosity / 4. Pre-modern Christian Perspectives on Curiosity Kent Dunnington / 5. Curiosity as an Intellectual Virtue Safiye Yigit / 6. Asking the Right Questions? Confucian Curiosity and Moral Self-Cultivation Ian James Kidd Part 3: Psychological Dimensions of Curiosity / 7. Constructing and Validating a Scale of Inquisitive Curiosity Kathryn Iurino, Brian Robinson, Markus Christen, Paul Stey, and Mark Alfano / 8. Examining Curiosity as Psychological Virtue and Vice Megan Haggard / 9. Some Epistemic Roles For Curiosity Dennis Whitcomb / Part 4: Epistemological Dimensions of Curiosity / 10. Curiosity, Virtuous Insensitivity, and Luck Reduction Abrol Fairweather and Carlos Montemayor / 11. Curiosity and Understanding Michael S. Brady / 12. Curiosity and Epistemic Norms Pascal Engel / Part 5: Educational Dimensions of Curiosity / 13. Fostering curiosity with Socratic exemplars: Considering the traditional Japanese idea of exemplars in learning Kunimasa Sato / 14. Educating for Curiosity Lani Watson
