Shaping Character Begins with Shaping How You Think

Good education is not just about content; it's about character. In Virtuous Minds, Philip E. Dow presents a compelling case for recovering intellectual character in our schools, communities, and personal lives. When society struggles with dishonesty, lazy thinking, and arrogance, the cultivation of intellectual virtue offers a transformative path forward.

This wise and practical guide explores seven essential intellectual virtues that form the foundation of good thinking and ethical living. Through engaging stories, biblical wisdom, and practical insights, Dow shows how these virtues are teachable traits that can produce flourishing lives.

This book equips readers to cultivate virtue in themselves while also helping them transform the spaces where they teach and lead. The recovery of virtue, Dow argues, is not about doing the right things, but about becoming the right kind of person, someone who demonstrates love for both God and neighbor.

Key Features of Virtuous Minds:



- Explores seven key virtues: courage, carefulness, tenacity, fair-mindedness, curiosity, honesty, and humility

- Offers a distinctively Christian approach to intellectual character development

- Equips educators, administrators, and education students with practical, substantive instruction they can apply directly in their classrooms

What's New in the Second Edition:



- Updated material engaging the most current conversations in intellectual virtue

- New chapters dedicated to practical classroom application

- A new preface situating this work at the forefront of a growing movement toward intellectual character development

This deep yet practical book is great for Christian educators, parents, pastors, and students who long to cultivate integrity and virtue in themselves and their students. Virtuous Minds provides the biblical foundation and practical tools needed to transform thinking habits and develop intellectual character that honors God.



Philip E. Dow (PhD, Cambridge University) is the head of school at Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany. His career in education, both as a teacher and a school leader, spans three continents and over thirty years.



Foreword by Jason Baehr



Acknowledgments 



Preface to the Second Edition



Introduction

Part 1: The Seven Intellectual Virtues



1. Intellectual Courage



2. Intellectual Carefulness



3. Intellectual Tenacity



4. Intellectual Fair-Mindedness



5. Intellectual Curiosity



6. Intellectual Honesty



7. Intellectual Humility

Part 2: The Fruits of Intellectual Character



8. The Benefits of Knowing More about More



9. The Benefits of Better Thinking



10. Loving God



11. Loving Your Neighbor

Part 3: Becoming People of Intellectual Character



12. Becoming Intellectually Virtuous: Suggestions for Everyone



13. Becoming Intellectually Virtuous: Suggestions for School Leadership



14. Becoming Intellectually Virtuous: Suggestions for the Classroom–Part 1



15. Becoming Intellectually Virtuous: Suggestions for the Classroom–Part 2

Conclusion: Thinking Sheepishly?



A Discussion Guide for University and Church Groups



Appendix A: The Graduate Profile for Rosslyn Academy, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 School Years



Appendix B: Intellectual Character Elementary Curriculum: Suggested Devotional Series for Grades One Through Three—Rosslyn Academy



Appendix C: Assessing Intellectual Character



Appendix D: The Berean Bursary



Appendix E: The Bear Creek School National Honor Society Intellectual Character Evaluation Form



Appendix F: The Bear Creek School Senior Project



Appendix G: Philosophy (the Love of Wisdom and Truth) and Logic (the Tools Needed to Find the Truth): Rosslyn Academy Course Outline



Appendix H: Introduction for the Intellectual Virtues Academy, Long Beach, California: Charter School Petition



Notes



References



Subject Index