Wisdom  

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[[Image:Hands of God and Adam.jpg|thumb|left|200px| [[Image:Hands of God and Adam.jpg|thumb|left|200px|
''[[Hands of God and Adam]]'' ([[1500s]]) is a detail of the [[Sistine Chapel ceiling ]] by [[Michelangelo]]. It is a detail from [[Adam and Eve on the Sistine Chapel ceiling|Adam and Eve cycle]]]] ''[[Hands of God and Adam]]'' ([[1500s]]) is a detail of the [[Sistine Chapel ceiling ]] by [[Michelangelo]]. It is a detail from [[Adam and Eve on the Sistine Chapel ceiling|Adam and Eve cycle]]]]
 +{| class="toccolours" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:30em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
 +| style="text-align: left;" |
 +"Because as [[wisdom]] grows, [[anger]] grows, and one who adds [[knowledge]], adds [[pain]]" --''[[Ecclesiastes]]''
 +|}
 +{{Template}}
[[Image:Plato and Aristotle in The School of Athens painting by Raphael.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Plato (left) and Aristotle (right), a detail of ''[[The School of Athens]]'', a fresco by [[Raphael]]. Aristotle gestures to the [[earth]], representing his belief in knowledge through empirical observation and experience, while holding a copy of his ''[[Nicomachean Ethics]]'' in his hand. Plato holds his ''[[Timaeus (dialogue)|Timaeus]]'' and [[pointing|points]] his [[index finger]] to the [[heaven]]s, representing his belief in [[The Forms]]]] [[Image:Plato and Aristotle in The School of Athens painting by Raphael.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Plato (left) and Aristotle (right), a detail of ''[[The School of Athens]]'', a fresco by [[Raphael]]. Aristotle gestures to the [[earth]], representing his belief in knowledge through empirical observation and experience, while holding a copy of his ''[[Nicomachean Ethics]]'' in his hand. Plato holds his ''[[Timaeus (dialogue)|Timaeus]]'' and [[pointing|points]] his [[index finger]] to the [[heaven]]s, representing his belief in [[The Forms]]]]
{{Template}} {{Template}}
-'''Wisdom''' has, in the Western tradition, been listed as one of four [[cardinal virtues]]. As a [[virtue]] it is a habit or disposition to perform the action with the highest degree of adequacy under any given circumstance. This implies a possession or seeking of knowledge of the given circumstances. This involves an understanding of people, things, events and situations, and the willingness and the ability to apply perceptions, judgments and actions in keeping with an understanding of what is the right course of actions. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions (the "[[Passions (philosophy)|passions]]") so that universal principles, values, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. In short, wisdom is a disposition to find the truth coupled with an optimum judgement as to right actions. Synonyms include: prudence, sagacity, discernment, or insight.+'''Wisdom''' has, in the Western tradition, been listed as one of four [[cardinal virtues]]. As a [[virtue]] it is a habit or disposition to perform the action with the highest degree of adequacy under any given circumstance. This implies a possession or seeking of knowledge of the given circumstances. This involves an understanding of people, things, events and situations, and the willingness and the ability to apply perceptions, judgments and actions in keeping with an understanding of what is the right course of actions. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions (the "[[Passions (philosophy)|passions]]") so that universal principles, values, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. In short, wisdom is a disposition to find the truth coupled with an optimum judgement as to right actions. Synonyms include: prudence, sagacity, discernment, or insight. Its reverse is called [[stupidity]].
 +==Philosophical perspectives==
 +The [[ancient Greeks]] considered wisdom to be an important [[virtue]], [[personified]] as the [[goddess]]es [[Metis (mythology)|Metis]] and [[Athena]]. Athena is said to have sprung from the head of Zeus. She was portrayed as strong, fair, merciful, and chaste. To [[Socrates]] and [[Plato]], [[philosophy]] was literally the love of Wisdom ([[-phil-|philo]]-[[sophia (wisdom)|sophia]]). This permeates Plato's [[dialogues]], especially ''[[The Republic (Plato)|The Republic]]'', in which the leaders of his proposed [[utopia]] are to be [[philosopher king]]s, rulers who understand the [[Form of the Good]] and possess the courage to act accordingly. [[Aristotle]], in his ''[[Metaphysics (Aristotle)|Metaphysics]]'', defined wisdom as the understanding of [[Causality|causes]], i.e. knowing why things are a certain way, which is deeper than merely knowing that things are a certain way.
 + 
 +The [[ancient Romans]] also valued wisdom. It was personified in [[Minerva]], or Pallas. She also represents skillful knowledge and the virtues, especially chastity. Her symbol was the owl which is still a popular representation of wisdom, because it can see in darkness. She was said to be born from Jupiter's forehead.
 + 
 +Wisdom is also important within [[Christianity]]. [[Jesus]] emphasized it. [[Paul the Apostle]], in his [[first epistle to the Corinthians]], argued that there is both secular and divine wisdom, urging Christians to pursue the latter. [[Prudence]], which is intimately related to wisdom, became one of the four [[cardinal virtues]] of [[Catholicism]]. The Christian philosopher [[Thomas Aquinas]] considered wisdom to be the "father" (i.e. the cause, measure, and form) of all virtues.
 + 
 +In the [[Inuit]] tradition, developing wisdom was one of the aims of teaching. An Inuit [[Elder (administrative title)|Elder]] said that a person became wise when they could see what needed to be done and do it successfully without being told what to do.
==See also== ==See also==

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"Because as wisdom grows, anger grows, and one who adds knowledge, adds pain" --Ecclesiastes

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Plato (left) and Aristotle (right), a detail of The School of Athens, a fresco by Raphael. Aristotle gestures to the earth, representing his belief in knowledge through empirical observation and experience, while holding a copy of his Nicomachean Ethics in his hand. Plato holds his Timaeus and points his index finger to the heavens, representing his belief in The Forms
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Plato (left) and Aristotle (right), a detail of The School of Athens, a fresco by Raphael. Aristotle gestures to the earth, representing his belief in knowledge through empirical observation and experience, while holding a copy of his Nicomachean Ethics in his hand. Plato holds his Timaeus and points his index finger to the heavens, representing his belief in The Forms

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Featured:

Wisdom has, in the Western tradition, been listed as one of four cardinal virtues. As a virtue it is a habit or disposition to perform the action with the highest degree of adequacy under any given circumstance. This implies a possession or seeking of knowledge of the given circumstances. This involves an understanding of people, things, events and situations, and the willingness and the ability to apply perceptions, judgments and actions in keeping with an understanding of what is the right course of actions. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions (the "passions") so that universal principles, values, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. In short, wisdom is a disposition to find the truth coupled with an optimum judgement as to right actions. Synonyms include: prudence, sagacity, discernment, or insight. Its reverse is called stupidity.

Philosophical perspectives

The ancient Greeks considered wisdom to be an important virtue, personified as the goddesses Metis and Athena. Athena is said to have sprung from the head of Zeus. She was portrayed as strong, fair, merciful, and chaste. To Socrates and Plato, philosophy was literally the love of Wisdom (philo-sophia). This permeates Plato's dialogues, especially The Republic, in which the leaders of his proposed utopia are to be philosopher kings, rulers who understand the Form of the Good and possess the courage to act accordingly. Aristotle, in his Metaphysics, defined wisdom as the understanding of causes, i.e. knowing why things are a certain way, which is deeper than merely knowing that things are a certain way.

The ancient Romans also valued wisdom. It was personified in Minerva, or Pallas. She also represents skillful knowledge and the virtues, especially chastity. Her symbol was the owl which is still a popular representation of wisdom, because it can see in darkness. She was said to be born from Jupiter's forehead.

Wisdom is also important within Christianity. Jesus emphasized it. Paul the Apostle, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, argued that there is both secular and divine wisdom, urging Christians to pursue the latter. Prudence, which is intimately related to wisdom, became one of the four cardinal virtues of Catholicism. The Christian philosopher Thomas Aquinas considered wisdom to be the "father" (i.e. the cause, measure, and form) of all virtues.

In the Inuit tradition, developing wisdom was one of the aims of teaching. An Inuit Elder said that a person became wise when they could see what needed to be done and do it successfully without being told what to do.

See also





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