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Wisdom is the ability to make correct judgments and decisions. It is an intangible quality gained through experience. Whether or not something is wise is determined in a pragmatic sense by its popularity, how long it has been around, and its ability to predict against future events. Wisdom is also accepted from cultural, philosophical and religious sources.
Many modern authorities on government, religion and philosophical ethics say that wisdom connotes an enlightened perspective. This perspective is often defined in a utilitarian way, as effective support for the long-term common good.
Wisdom and philosophy
A standard philosophical definition says that wisdom consists of making the best use of available knowledge. As with all decisions, a wise decision may be made with incomplete information. The technical philosophical term for the opposite of wisdom is folly.
Sources of Wisdom
Beyond the simple expedient of experience (which may be considered the most difficult way to gain wisdom as through the "school of hard knocks"), there are a variety of other avenues to gaining wisdom which vary according to different philosophies. For example, Freethinkers and others believe that wisdom may come from pure reason and perhaps experience, while others believe that it comes from intuition or spirituality.
- Holists believe that wise people sense, work with and align themselves and others to life. In this view, wise people help others appreciate the fundamental interconnectedness of life.
- Some religions hold that wisdom may be given as a gift from God.
See also
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