Intellectual courage and inquisitive reasons

Intellectual courage requires acting to promote epistemic goods despite significant risk of harm. Courage is distinguished from recklessness and cowardice because the expected benefit a courageous action outweighs (in some sense) threatened Sometimes, however, inquirers pursue theories that are not best supported by their current evidence. For these inquirers, actions cannot be explained appeal evidence alone. The probability pursuing true theory contribute enough for count as rather than reckless. Thus, there must other consideration which favors action, besides theory. I argue proper account intellectual recognition inquisitive reasons: distinct category reasons concern successful inquiry. This includes think itself promising, e.g., suggests potentially fruitful new research. It also social reasons, will improve distribution cognitive labor. Inquisitive help explain why researchers who improbable intellectually courageous, an partially determined in its favor. On my account, inquiry way sensitive reasons.