Wisdom What Is Wisdom? If

Wisdom What is Wisdom? If I have learned nothing else from this course, what I have learned is that it is almost impossible to define wisdom. After all, wisdom cannot be defined in positive terms. It is not the presence of a certain degree of knowledge, because all people, no matter how wise, only know a fraction of the facts and data that exist. Therefore, wisdom cannot even be negatively defined as the absence of ignorance.

In fact, even Plato's exhortations that wisdom is truth ring somewhat hollow, because truth is very subjective, while wisdom seems somewhat less subjective. However, there do appear to be some common characteristics among those who are considered wise, which may help shape a rough definition of wisdom. Wise people are people who are able to learn from their experiences and the experiences of others. They use logic to apply lessons learned in previous scenarios to new situations.

They avoid scenarios that will likely cause them pain that is greater than the reward promised by that scenario. While wise people may not rely strictly on emotion to make decisions, like Solomon, they do not disregard the important role that emotions can play in such decision-making. Finally, wise people have the ability to recognize their own limitations, and seek counsel and input from people with more knowledge and skill. From those attributes, it appears that wisdom is learning, logic, rational, and humble.

My definition of wisdom has changed dramatically since I entered this course. When I initially began my study of philosophy, I would have defined wisdom as the presence of knowledge, and I would have automatically responded that the wisest person that I know is the person who knows the most facts. However, I realize that my definition of wisdom was very one-sided. Someone can have a photographic memory, and still be essentially unwise, because he fails to apply the lessons that he has learned to new situations.

Likewise, someone can know a significant amount of information, but discount those facts and rely simply on emotion to make decisions. Neither of those people would be wise. In fact, it does not seem likely that true wisdom would be found in many of these factually-smart people, because many of them seem to lack the humility that is required to seek advice and assistance from others. This humility is the element of wisdom that I did not understand prior to this course.

Of the philosophers that I studied, I found Plato's views of wisdom the most untenable. Plato tried to equate wisdom with truth. I understand that when he did so, he was speaking of the universal truth. However, I simply do not believe that there are sufficient universal truths to equate wisdom with truth. In any scenario with multiple people, there are multiple perspectives as to the truth. Therefore, there is no ultimate truth. He believed that philosophers studied reality, but reality is much more flexible and fluid than he acknowledged.

Therefore, I find his concept of wisdom to be the least reasonable; it lacks the humility that I think is necessary for true wisdom. Of the philosophers that I studied, I found that Aristotle's views seemed the most reasonable. Given their relationship, it is no surprise that Aristotle and Plato shared some views. However, Aristotle's approach to wisdom differed from Plato's in a significant way; Aristotle recognized the.