The Role of Motivation and Wisdom in Virtue as Skill

This chapter discusses the roles of motivation and practical wisdom when conceptualizing the development of virtue as a matter of skill acquisition. While it might appear that skills lack these two components, the psychological research on expertise shows that motivation is central to acquiring expertise. Furthermore, much of what is attributed to having practical wisdom can already be found in expertise. However, there is an element to practical wisdom that does not find an analogue in expertise, and this involves understanding how practices fit into an overall conception of the good life. Also, this unique element of practical wisdom does not fit the developmental model of a skill. Nevertheless, while practical wisdom is not a singular skill, it can play a unifying role in helping us to arrive at all-things-considered moral judgments. Finally, this chapter considers how the development of practical wisdom needs to be sensitive to relations of power.