The Role of Alethic Affectivity in Virtue Based Theories of Knowledge

In this dissertation I examine the growing trend in Epistemology of virtue-based theories of knowledge. More specifically, I defend a form of virtue-based epistemology which requires that a knower have certain affective states, alethic affects, in order to possess knowledge in a wide range of cases. This dissertation is an advancement to the current state of research because I here provide arguments for motive-based requirements for knowledge that are independent of any particular theory of virtue. Current advocates of motivational requirements for knowledge often justify their position by relying on the general theory of virtue they adopt.