Virtuous Minds: Intellectual Character Development

by Philip E. Dow

Templeton Foundation Character Project's Character Essay and Book Prize Competition award winner What does it mean to love God with all of our minds ? Our culture today is in a state of crisis where intellectual virtue is concerned. Dishonesty, cheating, arrogance, laziness, cowardice--such vices are rampant in society, even among the world's most prominent leaders. We find ourselves in an ethical vacuum, as the daily headlines of our newspapers confirm again and again. Central to the problem is the state of education. We live in a technological world that has ever greater access to new information and yet no idea what to do with it all. In this wise and winsome book, Philip Dow presents a case for the recovery of intellectual character. He explores seven key virtues--courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty and humility--and discusses their many benefits. The recovery of virtue, Dow argues, is not about doing the right things, but about becoming the right kind of person. The formation of intellectual character produces a way of life that demonstrates love for both God and neighbor. Dow has written an eminently practical guide to a life of intellectual virtue designed especially for parents and educators. The book concludes with seven principles for a true education, a discussion guide for university and church groups, and nine appendices that provide examples from Dow's experience as a teacher and administrator. Virtuous Minds is a timely and thoughtful work for parents and pastors, teachers and students--anyone who thinks education is more about the quality of character than about the quantity of facts.

Genres: Education, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Religion, Professional Development

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2013

Reviews

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid book on developing intellectual virtue. Dow covers different aspects of intellectual virtue and then provides some ideas on how to develop them. I think this is an important book in our current context. A necessary aspect of discipleship is developing good disciplined and tenacious thinkers. For too long, Christians have not seen intellectual discipline as an important aspect of discipleship and the church has suffered because of it.

[Megan Knippenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an elementary teacher in a Christian School, I teach in a culture that seeks to develop the moral character of students. Philip Dow provides a slightly different slant on the topic, focusing on intellectual character. I had never before consciously contemplated the difference between moral character and intellectual character, and this book opened my eyes to some important skills and traits that I can help my students develop, including: courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty, and humility. Above all, I was reminded of the need to value the truth over all else in a society that often values wealth or expediency instead.

[Tim Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip Dow has written an excellent treatise here on what it means to develop intellectual character and at the same time given us a road map to developing that character in homes and schools. As opposed to moral virtues, or how we act rightly (which aren’t too separate from these), Dow concentrates on intellectual virtues, or how we think rightly.

The author begins with short, very accessible definitions of his seven intellectual virtues: Intellectual courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty and humility. In each, he describes the virtue and illustrates it from his own deep intellectual curiosity.

The second section of the book describes the fruits of building intellectual character: the benefits of knowing about more than we currently do and the benefits of better thinking. Because he is a Christian and writes from a Christian perspective, Dow then describes two additional fruits of intellectual character: Loving God better and Loving Your Neighbor better.

Taken together, these first two parts of the book make a reader yearn for a society given to intellectual character rather than our current society where most of us seem happy to hunker behind our intellectual barricades and fire artillery at those with whom we disagree; all out of our own lack of intellectual curiosity, fair-mindedness or humility.

In his final part, Dow describes a ten-step plan for developing intellectual character and seven principles for intentionally founding an education on the development of intellectual virtue. While these are directed at educators they are easily (as the author notes) adaptable to parents with their children—or (though the author does not expressly say it) adaptable to a personal plan for developing ones own intellectual character.

In a fulsome appendix, Dr. Dow describes various ways he and others have implemented these ideas in actual educational settings.

We live in times where character—moral and intellectual—seems the least of our concerns. If we are to turn from this destructive path, we must be very intentional about reviving the primacy of character. For intellectual character, Dow’s book is a very solid set of starting blocks.

[John Sagherian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading Philip E. Dow’s “Virtuous Minds: Intellectual Character Development.” It’s a thoughtful challenge to keep my mind clear, sharp, curious and disciplined even in small things; being committed to seeking the truth. As the back cover of the book says, “Virtue is not about doing the right things, but about becoming the right kind of person. The formation of intellectual character produces a way of life that demonstrates love for both God and neighbor.”

[Jayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great. Philip Dow presented seven important traits that compose intellectual character. These include courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty, and humility. As an educator, it was sobering to assess the presence of those traits in my own life.

[Nathaniel McVay · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple book. Not a bad book, just simple.

[Kami Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool challenge to change how we think & how we pursue truth! Then,as a teacher, it was a challenge to encourage my students to do the same

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of intellectual character and how to develop it in your self and your students is an important and rarely discussed idea. I very much appreciated how the author laid out types of intellectual virtues and was practical in their application. The concept of this book was excellent. However the execution was lacking in the very cursory, simplictic way the intellectual virtues were discussed, the hyperbolic tone of the examples and metaphors used, and the lack of explanation as to why those virtues and only those were chosen as specifically intellectual. There was also not good clarity about what made a virtue intellectual rather than moral and several of his sections, particularly on honesty, were not convincing as distinct catsgeories of the mind. His leap from character of the mind to its consequences was sometimes too great. Overall, it was a good introductory overview to the concept of intellectual virtue that needs a lot more substance and fleshing out.

[Reagan Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is an excellent book of enduring value! Enlightening, thought-provoking, challenging, practical... One of those books I can't wait to tell others about! Virtuous Minds couldn't be more applicable than it is now, when so many are ignoring or distorting the truth in favor of personal gain, acceptance, or power.

Using the most charming illustrations, Dow demonstrates how fostering a love of truth is essential for loving God and loving our neighbor. This is a realm of character development that I have never really seen thoroughly defined or explained. While the book is of immense personal value, it is also a great educational resource. I highly recommend this one!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was okay. It gave good definitions of what Dow deemed as "intellectual virtues" but his examples were on average, poor, ill-fitting, and long-winded. I would not recommend this book. Despite what it was lacking, the text challenged me to examine some of the little decisions (that really turn into big life patterns) I make...am I choosing to be virtuous?

5 Stars= I absolutely loved it, felt very moved. Extraordinary. I rarely give this rating.
3 Stars= I enjoyed it but wasn't wowed. My most common rating
1 Star= I intensely disliked this book.

[Albert Norton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Those who read this book probably don't need to. Those who don't, might.

[Caleb D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dow, Philip E. Virtuous Minds: Intellectual Character Development. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013.
Dr. Philip E. Dow received his doctorate from Cambridge University and has been teaching for over a decade where he taught advanced high school courses in both social studies and history. He has also served as the superintendent of Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya and currently serves as the head of Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany. Among his publications is School in the Clouds: The Rift Valley Academy Story.
In Virtuous Minds, Dr. Dow discusses the importance of building up of intellectual virtues to pursue truth and develop a well-rounded character. To do so, Dr. Dow identifies seven intellectual virtues: courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty, and humility. It is Dr. Dow’s argument that nurturing these virtues will lead to better thinking, scholarship, and personal growth.
Dr. Dow's work is driven by three fundamental research questions. First, what are the essential intellectual virtues that foster effective thinking and learning? Second, how can individuals intentionally cultivate these virtues within both educational and personal contexts? Finally, how does the development of intellectual character shape one’s pursuit of truth and overall character formation? Through these inquiries, Dow explores the transformative role of intellectual virtues in shaping not just knowledge acquisition, but the very way individuals engage with the world.
To answer these questions Dr. Dow focuses son exploring and understanding the complexities of human experiences and behaviors in a qualitative research approach. This means the Dr. Dow draws from educational theory, philosophical analysis, and by using practical examples. He further explores each intellectual virtue in depth, providing real-life illustrations and action steps to help the reader understand and develop theses virtues for themselves.
The greatest strengths of Virtuous Minds may also be its downfall. At the beginning of each chapter in Part I, Dr. Dow uses stories, personal, biblical, or just classic stories that most readers may recognize, this is a great way to introduce the various intellectual virtues that Dr. Dow is trying to draw the reader’s attention to. However, this method is repeated multiple times and becomes repetitive and tedious to the reader seeking to get to the meat of Dr. Dow’s arguments. Luckily, this structure changes in Part II, where Dow discusses the “The Fruits of Intellectual Character” and Part III, where he discusses “Becoming People of Intellectual Character.” Additionally, parts II and III seem like they could be included in the chapters of Part I for the potential of more clarity. Otherwise, Dr. Dow has written so that anyone can pick up Virtuous Minds and follow along easily.
Overall, I believe that Virtuous Minds is a great book to help the young reader develop courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty, and humility. Older or more mature readers may find Virtuous Minds a little too shallow, lacking in scholarly arguments, and missing the roll of the Holy Spirit in the acquisition of these virtues. But ultimately this is a great introduction to virtues that every Christian, especially Christian educators, should seek to develop in themselves and their students.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to "virtue epistemology" and the conception of "intellectual character" from an evangelical Christian perspective, if a bit superficial for my taste. I found my own reflections to be a bit meandering as I tried to piece them together into something resembling coherence. While reading I could not help but reflect on some of my issues with the conception of "virtue" in education as it is often articulated - mainly that all too often it gets reduced to something like functional value within a preexisting system in reaching set goals. You want to be a well-adjusted, virtuous kind of person? Work at cultivating these traits and habits! Dow focuses on character (what other eras might have called the "manners" aspect of ethical and social behavior), and assessing and developing certain virtuous traits within an educational system, but ignores or fails to move into what I would identify as the areas of most importance, especially from a Christian perspective, in grappling with humanity and sin: the family system and the larger social group.

While this is understandable from the perspective of an educator, this omission leads to an overreach for the claims made in the book. Developing intellectual virtues will not solve the deepest individual or social issues. What does it have to say to those kids or youth who don't have the family systems of health to put them in a good school, or to support them in learning? What does it have to say to the larger social issues that wreck lives and shape our conceptions of the world in ways we are often unaware of? For Aristotle, the original virtue theorist, a glaring omission was his justification of slavery and embrace of the social norms of his time - in this book, I was struck by the fact that there wasn't a single historical example given (and there were many historical examples) of a woman who exemplified or failed to exemplify the virtue in question. Unintentional omission? I'm sure. Indicative of a deeper systemic issue in how a "functionally virtuous" thinker can shape and distort thought at a level that goes deeper than the practices of intellectual virtue? Definitely.

[Alex Strasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable and helpful introduction to intellectual virtues. Part 1 introduces the 7 intellectual virtues, part 2 is on why developing intellectual character matters both intellectually and morally, and part 3 is how one can go about developing these intellectual virtues.

The seven intellectual virtues discussed are: Intellectual Courage, Intellectual Carefulness, Intellectual Tenacity, Intellectual Fair-Mindedness, Intellectual Curiosity, Intellectual Honesty, and Intellectual Humility. All of the discussions of the virtues were helpful, even if commonsensical at times. The examples added guidance. The book definitely motivated an interest in cultivating habits of intellectual virtue, and the discussion guide was really helpful in providing thought provoking questions. Further, it prompted action in making these habits important to you, and it also facilitated self-reflection on how to genuinely assess your own virtue, encouraged you to get others to evaluate your virtue, and prompted habits and strategies for personal growth.

I wish each chapter had a little bit more meat on it to analyze these virtues a bit more deeply and their nature. The analysis seemed a little bit thin, although the book was not addressed to academics. It would have been also helpful to add more detail on the corresponding intellectual vice in both its excess and deficiency. I was left with some open questions after this book: what is the connection between the 7 intellectual virtues discussed here and previous analyses of the intellectual virtues, such as that provided in the virtue epistemology literature? Was this supposed to be a comprehensive list, a starting point, or some uncontroversial paradigm examples? Further, there are many interesting questions on the relationship between the intellectual and moral virtues that I wish were addressed, such as whether there is a 1-to-1 map between the intellectual and moral virtues.

[Catherine]

A succinct book that outlines the following seven intellectual virtues: intellectual courage; intellectual carefulness; intellectual tenacity; intellectual fair-mindedness; intellectual curiosity; intellectual honesty; and intellectual humility.

The book also includes the fruit of intellectual character as well as how to develop virtuous intellectual character.

As the teacher of 1st and 2nd Grade students this year, I'm highlighting the little acts of bravery in the daily life of our classroom to sow the foundational seeds of intellectual courage in my students. I draw out the importance of intellectual carefulness, when I revisit work with students to rectify misunderstandings and watch as students feel a sense of pride in their new-found understanding and restoration of their work. I encourage students to 'stick with it, and don't give up' when they're working on something tricky. Observing the sense of accomplishment at the end of a task they've fought to master is the very thing that drives me to 'sweat the small stuff'. I applaud intellectual curiosity - for Dow states on p. 56, that 'without the desire to know more, growth in every area of our lives is virtually impossible.' Of intellectual honesty Dow goes on to say that 'acts of intellectual dishonesty are not simply isolated events but can become a fundamental part of who we are; and when this happens, the consequences to our lives, and to the society we live in, are devastating.'
Finally - intellectual humility requires that we see ourselves as we truly are - we honestly appraise our capacities as well as our limitations, 'against the standard of an all-knowing, infinitely intelligent and always true God.' (p.71)

[Carolyne Gathuru · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say that this book was intellectually stimulating is to put it mildly. This book has provided just about the most intellectual stimulation I've had in a while.

It's the kind of book one reads, puts down, absorbs, reads again, reflects and then moves on to the next piece of wisdom.

The intellectual virtues of - Intellectual Courage, Intellectual Carefulness, Intellectual Tenacity, Intellectual Fair-Mindedness, Intellectual Curiosity, Intellectual Honesty and Intellectual Humility, are unpacked in a way that provide insights and nuggets, not only to chew on, but to get down to doing.

For anyone who in a position to influence others, be it at work, at home, in the community, in service to the nation, leadership etc - this is the book not only to read, but to use as a practical guide for the knowledge and understanding of why and what it takes to raise a consciousness for good.

The definitions of the intellectual virtues have left the need to rise to the occasion and be that, do that and live that. Take for example how Intellectual Courage is defined here as "Those who are intellectually courageous earnestly want to know the truth and so consistently take risks in the pursuit of truth. They are willing to reconsider their own beliefs even if this scares them. But once they have done so, and come to a belief about what is true, they are willing to stick to their guns, even if the majority mocks or threatens them"

Now truly imagine how the world would work if just this one virtue of the seven was part of the majority's thinking. Wishful thinking? Yes? No?

[Caleb Pahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores the topic of “Intellectual Character Development”. The book is especially helpful for educators in Christian schools who want their students to learn how to love God with all of their minds.

I enjoyed reading this book as it gave me a chance to think more deeply about my own thinking. One of the central points that stuck with me was the importance of loving the truth. If we are true followers of Jesus we need to highly value truth. We need to have open minds and we need to practice critical thinking so that we can evaluate the truth claims of everything we read and see. The book provides lots of good examples for educators and parents in the appendices. One way that I think Christian schools could apply what this book is talking about is by following in the example of Rosslyn Academy from Nairobi, Kenya. Each year the staff and faculty of Rosslyn Academy award a graduating Senior with the “Berean Bursary” award. This award is given to the Senior who “best exemplifies the virtuous intellectual character of the Bereans” (from Acts 17). “Each year the high school faculty chooses the one person, from a number of worthy nominees, whose life best reflects a passion for truth as demonstrated in the intellectual character traits of honesty, fair mindedness, courage, curiosity, carefulness, tenacity and humility.” The reason an award like this is important is that it shows the students and the community that the school values intellectual character and not only high academic achievement.

[Shawn Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might be a 4, but I'm not sure. Dow makes a case for thinking about thinking as a virtue. I was reviewing the book as a potential text for a Freshman "Introduction to College" type course. He outlines the characteristics of virtuous thinking, and this seems helpful. I think it could provide a useful foundation by creating a shared language for habits of thinking. That said, it favors telling us why those characteristics are important without enough attention on how to develop the habits. Even though it slants in favor of convincing the reader of the importance of the characteristics it explains, I often felt unconvinced. Or that is to say, I imagine that if I didn't already agree with what was being said, I would not be convinced by this presentation. This is especially true as it relates to the anthropology of this work. It assumes humans as thinking things. If you can be taught to think more carefully and to think correctly you will behave appropriately. Thinking-deep, careful, courageous thinking-is important, but the past 500 years should serve as an important reminder that treating humans as brains on sticks doesn't necessarily lead to moral behavior. I may still use the work, but it will have to be paired with works to correct for the overemphasis on thinking alone.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed and appreciated this book a lot more than I thought it would. I thought it would be a run-of-the-mill philosophically education minded blasé book, but it was more than that. Philip Dow laid out the seven characteristics of good intellectual character: intellectual courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty, and humility. He had good things to say in each section, and I came away with some good pointers. The educational application of the book was saved to a chapter near the end. It didn't provide much in terms of explicitly applicable lesson ideas. Instead, as a teacher, the whole book should be taken as a framework to model your intellectual/non-physical actions and life after. If we as teachers can live in such a way that we consistently and correctly model the seven intellectual characteristics that Dow laid out, then our students will take notice, learn from us (beyond the content we teach), and achieve a better intellectual character.

A good quote: "The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly they seek it while conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come." ~C.S. Lewis

[BJ Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for continuing education credit with ACSI. Dow does a great job highlighting the need for intellectual integrity. Unfortunately, his illustrations were weak and the application was vanilla. I am glad I read the book and I enjoyed even more the discussions it sparked with those who were going through it with me, but there was nothing here that really blew me away.

As an ironic side note, on the chapter on Intellectual Fair Mindedness, he uses an illustration about Müntzer that is almost certainly not true. There is an often told lie that he promised the peasants God was on their side and the bullets would not harm him. This roots from this tale first came from an account one of his enemies told about his pre-battle speech in a letter to Luther (another enemy). Melancthon then greatly exaggerated the account in a vitriolic tract against Müntzer a short time later and it is Melancthon's version that is usually repeated today. It is not very "intellectually fair-minded" of Dow to use this illustration, denigrating Müntzer, without doing his homework first.

[Hannah Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was glad to read this original text. I was curious about this book because I loved “The Outrageous Idea of a Missional Professor” which summarized these ideas of intellectual virtue as an aspect of living out the Christian worldview in the whole of our lives rather than isolating career or academia or home from our Christian identities.

As a parent, I appreciated this list of key aspects of intellectual virtue that were carefully articulated in a way that I could set them as goals in my parenting journey as qualities I want to disciple my children into. The info at the end of the book about schools that have adopted these virtues as part of their mission are also helpful to this end.

Consistency in each of these virtues is challenging and something we likely need to pursue in accountability with those around us and through the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit

[Emil Avedisian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces seven intellectual virtues which are much needed in our world today to be embraced alongside the moral virtues. It also presents the benefits of embracing them with steps and examples to promote them.
The book is based on a Christian worldview, but it did not contain many Biblical references. I hope a second edition will integrate the Biblical references mentioned in the discussion guide into the main chapters in order to give a more solid Biblical base.
It took me a long time to read the book because I began reading it during my free time in the school where I work, left it in the school during the covid-19 lockdown, and picked it up again after going to the school building again!

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read, but packed with thought-provoking material. Dow succinctly sketches seven distinct intellectual virtues, extols their value for us, and offer suggestions for how to develop these virtues.

While the book is short, and does not unpack each virtue as fully as possible, Dow's explanations are clear and concise. His suggestions for developing the virtues can be easily summed up by one phrase: Do it! While that could be viewed as a criticism, it is not. Dow is able to give helpful steps toward developing these intellectual virtues without simply dictating the "proper" way to develop them.

Overall, this was a helpful, challenging book.

[Phillip Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and challenging book by Philip Dow on cultivating the intellectual virtues. He contrasts these with the moral and civic virtues we usually thin of when virtues are mentioned. Courage, tenacity, carefulness, fair-mindedness, humility, honesty and curiosity make up his list. Directed at Christian schools, raises the good challenge of whether or not we are cultivating such virtues in our students. Practical, with real life examples of schools that focus on these virtues, it is a book well worth reading by every Christian teacher and school leader.

[Robbie Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book but was left a little confused by the end.

Overall, I think it stems from an erroneous extraction of the concept of intellectual character from overall character. Sure, some virtues are more about the way we think than the way we act, but our character does not exist in the mind only. For this reason, we cannot divide up virtue as being merely intellectual, moral, embodied and so on; character is a combination of a whole host of things.

Useful bits in places and one I will return to but not convinced by the underpinning ideas.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impactful—a book I really want to spend more time in and make a part of my practice. I want this type of mind for me, for my kids, for my students.
I have had some really rich conversation with colleagues about how to incorporate this thinking into our classrooms and the fabric of the school. Lord, recapture our minds!

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw one reviewer say something like "those who will read this, don't need it, and those who won't, do." That's about right.

The examples were superficial. It was not historically satisfactory most of the time. It was written at an 8th grade reading level.

The concept is really needed in schools and homes, though.

So four stars (but a serious revision is needed)

B. Grizenko

Ages 12+

[Anna Piphany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite Christian but I found the passion beautiful. Very practical and respectful and concise! Good reminders for right approach to research as well as engaging with challenging topics and practicing dialogue and critical thought :)

[Brian Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

One could be forgiven for thinking that intellectual virtue is the purview of white educated males given the primacy of place the author gives them in his historical examples. But other than that it was an alright book.

[Nathan P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great ideas and an important discussion - I just thought the execution could have been better.