Wisdom
Wisdom or experience is a character that develops with the application of intelligence in one's own experience, obtaining conclusions that give us a greater understanding, than in turn, they enable us to reflect, drawing conclusions that give us discernment of the truth, good and bad. Wisdom and morality are interrelated resulting in an individual who acts with good judgment. Sometimes wisdom is taken to be an especially well-developed form of common sense.
In information sciences, wisdom constitutes the vertex of the pyramid constituted, from least to most complex, by data, information, knowledge and wisdom.
In wisdom stands out the sound judgment based on knowledge and understanding; the ability to successfully use knowledge and understanding to solve problems, avoid or impede danger, achieve certain goals, or advise others. It is the opposite of, and is often contrasted with, foolishness, stupidity, and madness. Thomas Aquinas defines wisdom as "certain knowledge of the deepest causes of everything" (In Metaphysica, I, 2). For this reason, for him, wisdom has the proper function of ordering and judging all knowledge.
Wisdom takes its cues from what is called long-term memory. In other words, what has been experienced must have been experienced with enough frequency or intensity so that it is not erased from our memory, it is inserted into the schemes of what we consider good or bad and is taken into account as part of the survival processes of the individual.
In psychology
Most psychologists [citation needed] consider wisdom as distinct from cognitive abilities measured by intelligence tests. Wisdom is often considered a trait that can be developed by experience, but not taught. When applied to practical matters, the word wisdom is synonymous with prudence. Wisdom is seen by some as a quality that even an otherwise immature child can possess regardless of full knowledge or experience. Wisdom according to a very explicit definition of it is: "The correct way to apply knowledge" [citation required] and it goes much further than the intellect itself, showing thus the elemental of Life. [citation required]
Contemporary culture limits the importance of wisdom and intuition.
The level of wisdom or prudence as a virtue is recognized in cultural, philosophical and religious sources. Some define wisdom in a utilitarian sense, as a way of foreseeing the consequences and acting to maximize the common good in the long term.
Mythological and philosophical perspectives
The ancient Greeks regarded wisdom as an important virtue, personified as the goddesses Metis and Athena. Metis was the first wife of Zeus, who, according to Hesiod's Theogony, had devoured her pregnant; Zeus later earned the title of Mêtieta (& # 34; The Wise Counselor & # 34;), since Metis was the embodiment of wisdom, and gave birth to Athena, who is said to have emerged from the head of she. Athena was depicted as strong, just, merciful, and chaste. Apollo was also considered a god of wisdom, designated as the director of the Muses. (Musagetes), who were personifications of the inspired and poetic sciences and arts; According to Plato in his Cratylus, the name Apollo could also mean & # 34;Ballon & # 34; (archer) and "Omopoulon" (unifier of poles [divine and earthly]), since this god was responsible for divine and true inspirations, for which reason he was considered an archer who was always right in healing and oracles: "he is an archer which is always launched". Apollo was considered the god who prophesied through the priestesses (Pythia) in the Temple of Apollo (Delphi), where the aphorism "know thyself" (gnōthi seauton) was inscribed (part of the wisdom of the Delphic maxims). He was contrasted with Hermes, related to science and technical wisdom, and, in the first centuries after Christ, was associated with Thoth in an Egyptian syncretism, under the name of Hermes Trimegistus. Greek tradition records the first introducers of wisdom in the Seven Sages of Greece.
For Socrates and Plato, philosophy was literally the love of wisdom (philo-sophia). This pervades Plato's dialogues; in The Republic the leaders of his utopia proposal are philosopher kings who understand the Idea of Good and have the courage to act accordingly. Aristotle, in Metaphysics, defined wisdom as the understanding of why things are in a certain way (causality), which is deeper than the mere fact of knowing that things are in a certain way. way. He was the first to make the distinction between phronesis and sophia.
According to Plato and Xenophon, the Pythia of the Oracle of Delphi answered the question "Who is the wisest man in Greece?" stating that Socrates was the wisest. According to Plato's Apology, Socrates decided to investigate people who could be considered wiser than him, concluding that they lacked true knowledge:
- [... ] ο...τος μ...ν ο,εταί τι είι είδι ο,κ είος, εγ, δέ,,σπερ ο,ν ο,κ οιδααι, ο,δ [μοαι [.]I am wiser than this man; for neither of you really know nothing fine and good, but this man believes to know something when he does not know it, while I, as I know nothing, do not think I know. ] - Apology to Socrates 21d
This is how he was popularly immortalized in the phrase "I only know that I know nothing" that it is wise to recognize one's own ignorance and value epistemic humility.
The ancient Romans also valued wisdom as personified in Minerva, or Pallas. She also represents skillful knowledge and virtues, especially chastity. Her symbol was the owl, which is still a popular representation of wisdom, because she can see in the dark. She is said to have been born from the forehead of Jupiter.
Wisdom is also important within Christianity. Jesus emphasized it. Prudence, closely related to wisdom, became one of the four cardinal virtues of Catholicism. The Christian philosopher Thomas Aquinas considered wisdom to be the "father" (ie, the cause, measure, and form) of all the virtues.
In line with the Socratic conception, in the XVIII century Immanuel Kant stressed that «man is not in possession of of wisdom, it tends only towards it." Philosophy then would be an effort towards wisdom, which is never fully fulfilled. In this way, for Kantian critical philosophy the figure of the sage becomes fundamental, although only as an ideal and unattainable norm to which the philosopher can simply aspire.
In Buddhist traditions, the development of wisdom plays a central role in which comprehensive guidance on how to develop wisdom is provided. In the Inuit tradition, developing wisdom was one of the goals of teaching. An Inuit Elder said that a person became wise when he could see what had to be done and did it successfully without being told what he had to do.
In many cultures, the name of the third molars, which are the last teeth to grow, is etymologically related to wisdom, for example, as in English wisdom tooth. Its nickname originates from the classical tradition, which in Hippocratic writings was already called sophronistér (in Greek, related to the meaning of moderation or teaching a lesson), and in Latin dens sapientiae (wisdom teeth), as they appear at the age of maturity in late adolescence and early adulthood.
Psychological Perspectives
Psychologists have begun to gather data on common beliefs or popular theories of wisdom. Early analyzes indicate that, although there is an overlap of the implicit theory of wisdom with intelligence, the ability to perception, spirituality and cunning, it is clear that wisdom is an expertise in dealing with the difficult questions of life and adapting to complex demands. "
These implicit theories are in contrast to explicit theories and empirical research on the resulting psychological processes that underlie wisdom. Opinions on the exact psychological definitions of wisdom vary, but there is some consensus that certain meta-cognitive processes that enable reflection and judgment on critical life issues are critical to wisdom. These processes include recognizing the limits of one's knowledge, recognizing uncertainty and change, paying attention to context and the big picture, and integrating different perspectives on a situation. Cognitive scientists suggest that wisdom requires coordinating these reasoning processes, as they can provide insightful solutions for managing one's life. In particular, this type of reasoning is theoretically and empirically distinct from general intelligence. Robert Sternberg has suggested that wisdom should not be confused with general intelligence (fluid or crystallized). In keeping with this idea, researchers have empirically shown that wise reasoning is distinct from Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Several more nuanced characterizations of wisdom are listed below.
Baltes and his colleagues in Wisdom: its structure and function in regulating lifespan successful development defined wisdom as "the ability to face the contradictions of a concrete situation and to assess the consequences of an action for himself and for others. It is achieved when in a concrete situation a balance can be worked out between intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional interests". The balance itself seems to be a critical criterion of wisdom. Empirical research began to support this idea, showing that wisdom-related reasoning is associated with achieving a balance between intrapersonal and interpersonal interests when facing personal life challenges, and when setting goals for life. management of interpersonal conflicts.
Researchers in the field of positive psychology have defined wisdom as the coordination of "knowledge and experience" and "its deliberate use to enhance well-being" According to this definition, wisdom is further defined with the following facets:
Understanding and relationship of wisdom with other related concepts
Wisdom implies breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding, which are what provide the good sense and clarity of judgment that characterize it. The wise man 'hoards up knowledge' and thus has a fund to fall back on. (Pr 10:14) Although “wisdom is the main thing,” the advice is: “With all that you acquire, acquire understanding.” (Pr 4:5-7) Understanding (a broad term often encompassing discernment) adds strength to wisdom, contributing greatly to discretion and foresight, qualities that are also notable characteristics of wisdom. Discretion implies prudence, and can be expressed in the form of caution, self-control, moderation or restraint. The “discreet [a form of fro · ni · mos]” man builds his house on the rock mass, anticipating the possibility of a storm; the fool builds it on sand and experiences disaster. —Mt 7:24-27.
The Hebrew term chokch mah (verb, ha kham) and the Greek so phi a, as well as their cognates, are the basic words that communicate the concept of "wisdom." There is also the Hebrew word tu schi yáh, which can be translated as “effective work” or “practical wisdom,” and the Greek words phro ni mos and phro ne sis (from phren, the “mind”)., which refer to "good sense", "discretion" or "practical wisdom".