An Understanding Of Wisdom
I feel I owe myself this article.
Maybe I am a victim of my own algorithms. With so much news, content and birthdays in circulation, the word wisdom feels increasingly important. Maybe I am paying more attention to it as I understand its importance now.
In the past few years, interest in personal development and well-being has increased dramatically. This leads to more searching for content-related products and practices. The increase in online searches for intellectual topics reflects the apptetite for wisdom.
In addition to the positive meaning of wisdom, there is a negative one. Some are that they have developed underlying associations with elitism, inaccessibility, or rigidity. This challenges the notion of wisdom as a monopoly.
I believe the topic is more hollistic and complicated than that.
But why does this pursuit continue across cultures and languages? Why does the concept of intelligence persist despite all explanations?
Wisdom in the Western Language:
In the West, the word “wisdom” has a complex history of philosophical, religious, and social ideologies. From its Old English root “wīs” meaning to see, know, and be wise, the word was once simple. Its foundation was laid by such ancient Greek philosophers as Socrates and Plato. Wisdom (“Sophia”) was equated with deep knowledge and moral living. It is believed to manifest itself through self-examination, questioning, and virtuous behavior.
This view found a strong foundation in Jewish and Christian ideology. One becomes wise by divine knowledge and righteousness. We hear of Solomon’s wise judgments. Similarly, Jesus became a beacon of wisdom, seamlessly blending faith and morality. The search for wisdom combined with the desire to live according to God’s will made faith the usable compass.
The Renaissance marked the beginning of change. Thinkers like Francis Bacon and John Locke endorse reason as the key to wisdom. They imagined a society empowered by knowledge and critical thinking. Wisdom thus became possible, more accessible, and transcended religious requirements.
From the 13th to the 15th century, “wisdom” became infused into the English language. Writers such as Chaucer and Shakespeare used it extensively in their works. This led to more nuanced vocabulary and use. By the 16th century, dictionaries included “wisdom” with many definitions. This reflects its linguistic position and complexity.
However, the Western approach to wisdom is not without its skeptics. Enter Nietzsche, who questioned the absoluteness of reason. He argues that emotion and experience also hold the keys to wisdom. This ongoing dialogue, this healthy tension between perspectives highlights the very complexity of Western logic.
Wisdom in the Eastern Language:
Wisdom manifested itself most prominently in spiritual traditions in the wider regions of Asia. In India, wisdom (“prajna”) finds its essence in “darshan,“ a direct intuitive realization of truth. Ancient texts like the Vedas and Upanishads emphasize cultivating inner peace and detachment from worldly desires.
Confucianism is another eastern philiosophy that builds on wisdom. With emphasis on filial piety and societal order, it views wisdom as essential for leadership and governance. People could also study it. Taoism, on the other hand, sees wisdom in harmony with the natural flow of the universe. It emphasized a good conscience and living in harmony with the “Tao” or Way.
In Buddhism, wisdom (“prajna”) lies at the heart of achieving enlightenment. It involves understanding the impermanence of all things. This transcends worldly desires to reach a state of liberation. Meditation and mindfulness play a role in acquiring this wisdom.
There are common threads that run through interpretations of Eastern wisdom. Often seen as a holistic pursuit and something attainable. It continues to develop through morality and living in harmony with the world.
Where does this word end up today? Well, we are not short on studies and reflection on wisdom.
Knowledge Integration and Effective Application: Wisdom requires not only the gathering of facts but also the ability to combine them effectively. This includes drawing on experiences, identifying relevant information and applying it to the current situation using discernment and judgment. Studies such as Staudinger and Glueck (1999) suggest that wise individuals excel at integrating knowledge from diverse domains, demonstrating a flexible and contextualized understanding.
Multifaceted Perspective-Taking: Simply acquiring knowledge is not enough. Wisdom requires the ability to think about situations from a variety of perspectives. This includes developing different perspectives and recognizing the limitations of any one area of expertise. This skill, explored by Ardelt (2003) as “cognitive complexity,” allows individuals to expect unintended consequences and make choices that considers others.
Objective Evaluation and Bias Mitigation: Wise judgment depends on the ability manage potential biases robustly. This includes identifying emotional or personal biases, and ensuring that impulsive responses are rationally analyzed. Studies by Grossmann et al. (2020) highlights the awareness of one’s own thinking patterns and their potential biases.
Knowing one self: Self-awareness is the ability to examine one’s own thoughts, emotions, and motivations with honesty and clarity. This introspective journey, as argued by authors like Goleman (2006) and Schwartz (2015), allows individuals to make choices aligned with their core values and long-term goals. This fosters one’s own coherence and authenticity.
The consistence of humility and learning: Wisdom thrives on humility and an openness to learn. This allows the person to learn from others and continue to refine their understanding. This not only leads to personal growth, but also to acceptance of different ideas.
Peace in self: Wisdom requires an inner stillness. Practices such as meditation and mindfulness, described by Kabat-Zinn (2003) can help calm the mind. This reduces emotional reactions. This allows them to think more carefully about situations. This self-monitoring approach empowers individuals to make choices based on self-awareness and reflection.
Not just the prefrontal cortex: Wisdom is not solely concerned with cognitive processes. It is also intimately connected to the emotional realm. Here, compassion and empathy play a key role in wisdom. According to Ardelt (2003) , individuals who are able to see the world through the eyes of others are better equipped to make choices that consider the interests of the larger community
Tempering the amygdala: Furthermore, wisdom requires emotional regulation and balance. This prevents impulsive reactions and making deliberate choices, even in challenging situations. Grossmann et al. (2020) emphasize the importance of metacognition in this process. Metacognition is defined as individuals being aware of their own emotional states and regulating them appropriately.
Altruism and Pro-social: Ultimately, wisdom manifests itself through altruism and pro-social behavior. Acting for the greater good and consideration for the welfare of others are among the basic aspects of wisdom. As is often said, wise individuals tend to prioritize collective action over personal gain.
The meaning of wisdom is far from static. It is constantly shaped by changing circumstances and cultural influences. Personal values and personal journeys play a role in defining and acquiring meaning.
This article is really for me and my ownership of the word. Personally, I feel the importance of understanding the linguistical history and modern implications.
To me, at the very least.
References
- Ursula M. Staudinger and Judith Glück. Psychological Wisdom Research: Commonalities and Differences in a Growing Field. . Annual Review of Psychology. Vol. 62:215–241 (Volume publication date January 2011)
- Martinez, J.K., Dong, S. An Investigation of Multicultural Counseling Competence Development among Graduate-Level Counseling Students through Mindfulness, Cognitive Complexity, and Cognitive Flexibility. Int J Adv Counselling 42, 292–306 (2020)
- Sternberg, Robert J., James C. Kaufman, and Anne M. Roberts. “16 The relation of creativity to intelligence and wisdom.” The Cambridge handbook of creativity (2019)
- Kabat-Zinn, Jon. “Mindfulness-based interventions in context: past, present, and future.” (2003)
- Grossmann, Igor, Nic M. Weststrate, Michel Ferrari, and Justin P. Brienza. “A common model is essential for a cumulative science of wisdom.” Psychological Inquiry 31, no. 2 (2020)
