Les vertus épistémiques de l’étonnement

Abstract

From the perspective of Analytical Thomism, we show that astonishment is a cognitive emotion by which we can inquire into the cause of the effects at which we are astonished. Like Descartes after him, Thomas Aquinas remarks, however, that not all astonishment is good. It is therefore up to consider the epistemic virtues by requested we will be able to live a legitimate astonishment. We distinguish three: one by intellectual attention which causes astonishment; on the other hand, the intellectual docility which directs it; and finally the intellectual benevolence which preserves it.