Shared Knowledge from Individual Vice: the Role of Unworthy Epistemic Emotions

Abstract

This paper begins with a discussion the role of less-than-admirable epistemic
emotions in our respectable, indeed admirable inquiries: nosiness, obsessiveness, wishful thinking, denial, partisanship. The explanation for their desirable effect is Mandevillian: because of the division of epistemic labour individual epistemic vices can lead to shared knowledge. In fact it is sometimes essential to it.