Episode Details

Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Director of the interdisciplinary Center for Knowledge, Technology & Society. He was previously Professor of Philosophy and Director of the interdisciplinary Eidyn research centre at the University of Edinburgh.He mostly works in epistemology, and as written on many topics in this field, including radical skepticism, theory of knowledge, virtue epistemology, modal epistemology, epistemic luck/risk, social epistemology, understanding, inquiry, know-how, and so on. He’s also interested in topics that explore epistemological ideas in particular domains, such as law, education, religion, healthcare, and cognitive science. Relatedly, he’s been involved with a number of projects in applied philosophy, such as bringing the teaching of philosophy into Scottish prisons, exploring the role of extended cognition in special needs education, and incorporating the intellectual virtues into the heart of the UCI curriculum. He’s also done a lot of MOOCs, most recently this one.

Some career highlights: He’s won the Philip Leverhulme Prize for his research in philosophy, He’s been elected to a fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and he’s delivered the annual Soochow Lectures in Philosophy (which were subsequently published as the book Epistemic Angst by Princeton University Press, the cover of which is on the right). 

He is the Editor-in-Chief of Oxford University Press's Oxford Bibliographies: Philosophy and the co-Editor-in-Chief (and co-Founder) of the International Journal for the Study of Skepticism. 

 summary

Duncan Pritchard delves into the intricacies of epistemology, exploring the nature of knowledge, truth, and the importance of intellectual virtues. He shares his personal journey into philosophy, the role of education in cultivating character, and the transformative power of philosophy in various contexts, including prisons. The conversation also addresses the challenges posed by AI and technology, the significance of understanding luck in knowledge acquisition, and the need for a deeper appreciation of human existence. He emphasizes the importance of caring for the truth and fostering intellectual character as essential components for personal and societal flourishing.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Epistemology and Personal Journey

02:34 The Role of Education in Intellectual Character

06:48 Understanding Knowledge and Truth

10:16 Cultivating Intellectual Virtues

16:55 Philosophy in Prisons: Transformative Education

22:52 Cross-Cultural Applications of Intellectual Virtues

29:09 The Impact of AI on Knowledge and Character

35:21 Virtue Signaling and the Pursuit of Truth

40:16 The Challenges of Centralization in Education

43:34 Teaching Intellectual Virtues to Younger Generations

48:37 Exploring Epistemic Luck

53:00 The Psychology of Luck and Perspective

55:27 Neuroscience and Free Will

01:01:13 The Mystery of Human Existence

01:04:52 Influences and Recommendations in Epistemology

01:07:59 Final Thoughts on Truth and Character

Music for episode

Renick Turley SedonaFilm | Musician . Cinematographer. Editor 

https://www.instagram.com/sedona_film/

https://vimeo.com/renickdp

https://www.duncanpritchard.org/

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