What is Wisdom?
Philosophy Human Nature
Jaleesa Scott
March 19, 2014

Wisdom

What exactly is wisdom? Wisdom is not so easy to define in abstract. Wisdom is good judgment, pure confidence, and knowledge. Wisdom can be defined in several ways and each definition is based on the person or source. Searching into these sources I have come to the dictionaries version, Biblical Version, Philosophical Version, and then Socrates Version.
The dictionary defines wisdom as the quality or state of being wise; the knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight. Wisdom is not “knowing everything”, but it is opening your mind to increase knowledge. A wise person should be known for thinking before they speak on any subject they know about, also they allow themselves to ask questions about the ones he/she are unfamiliar with. People who are wise tend to be humble and not show-offs. Wisdom by the dictionaries version starts by saying that it is just a state of being wise that makes wisdom an option or a choice with no real obstacles. It simplifies wisdom into having knowledge of right or wrong and if a person is unsure should seek the information instead of moving forward blindly.
The characteristics of a wise person by dictionary terms or standards are facts, experience, and knowing people. A wise person should be known to be knowledgeable which allows them to obtain facts that are needed. The facts may have been recorded from a previous source and made available to make a person knowledgeable. Looking for these facts are what make a person wise and knowledgeable of the world. These facts may also get the facts by furthering your education. Experience provides information that is too large to be recorded as facts. Knowing people that is knowledgeable of a certain topic can help you also become wise. A wise person will try to obtain knowledge by any way possible without any excuses.
A person that has wisdom also is known for their intelligence. There are a lot of different types of intelligence that is used in wisdom such as the ability to make connections between components. For example deciding between doing the right or wrong thing. That brings me to the ability to reach a logical conclusions. Which would be doing the right thing that will benefit you in the end. The ability to understand a complicated idea that may come from the pressure of your friends or family. The ability to add insight to any possible troubled situation. The insight will allow you to see the correct decision clearly. Also the ability to find the right balance that allows you to reach your ultimate overall good. Finally there is an ability to discern the needs of people despite their beliefs.
The Old Testament in the Bible defines wisdom as having the keen insight into life and ways of dealing with its problems. The term “wisdom” apply to a way of thinking and conduct that is orderly, socially sensitive, and morally upright. Wisdom simplifies religion by describing faith as born out of decisions that are wise or foolish. There are two ways a person may take, and the choices one make determine ones direction. You may find definitions or example of biblical wisdom in the book Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. The bible also defines Wisdom as more than following a set of rules. A set of commandments can give us great examples of wisdom but they are only that just examples. It is up to the person that is following the commandments to generalize which commandment goes to what situation.
Wisdom in the bible also means also acting according to the spirit of Christ and the spirit of the commandments. It is not looking for a simple way out but the honest and true way. Wisdom is also means understanding the repercussions of every action that we take including our actions or the words we use. Biblical wisdom means having the knowledge and understanding of the right thing to do and having the courage to follow it. The bible refers to wisdom as a path to follow that will bring us harmony with God because He is pleased with us. It is to bring us harmony with ourselves because we are offered a feeling of self-worth and peace. We are to obtain peace within because we are following the commandments and in accordance with conscience that allows us to be guilt free. The Christian religion offer excellent philosophies, because they are usually balanced in their approach.
The dictionary of philosophy defines wisdom as the ability to discern or judge what is true, right or lasting; insight a wise outlook, plan, or course of action. The word wisdom in philosophy is fundamental t is not easy to define wisdom directly. There can be good philosophies and also bad philosophies. A good philosophy attempts to strike a balance between what is good inside, for another person, and for our community. There is a set of philosophies that are considered unbalanced or wrong in the path of becoming wise, this is known as distorted.
The first distorted or unbalanced philosophy is selfishness. A totally selfish person cannot obtain wisdom. This person cannot become wise because their thought process stops at “Me first, and the rest of the world last,” this in end can only end leading the person in search of wisdom down the wrong path.
The second is liberal this position on wisdom is unbalanced due to the position only holding that only certain people in society are important. They also see themselves more important than others that are part of their community. This may stem from the thought that wealth can allow you to become anything and buy anything including wisdom.
The third is communist this philosophy of wisdom says that individuals are subordinate to the community, and therefore can be sacrificed for the good of the community. Their wisdom stops at the thought process of “the end justifies the means,” this allows people to think that it is okay to do evil, if it may lead to good in the end.
To obtain wisdom in my opinion is to have confidence, knowledge, and having good judgment. Even though these can be easy to obtain a lot of people are still clueless about what wisdom is or they already feel they may be wise enough. One must actually make good choices b actually thinking about positive conclusions. For example if there is someone you feel you may hate you are very capable of making poor judgment. Finally I feel as though even though you are wise you can only continue to stay wise if you allow yourself to open you mind, body, and soul to learning positive experiences. Being wise does not mean that you are incapable of making mistakes but learning from them.
Socrates claims that he lacks knowledge and wisdom. Socrates claims is wise because unlike the others he believes he is not whereas the others he spoke with such as the poets, politicians, and craftsman arrogantly and foolishly believe they are wise. Socrates believes that wisdom is a man knowing “a man worth anything doesn’t consider living or dying but whether he is right or wrong, good or bad.” So Socrates focus on wisdom like mine is more on being righteous than any outcome or consequence.

References

* Penguin Classics.(1969) Plato: The last Days of Socrates * Stevenson, Leslie., Haberman, David., Wright, Peter Twelve theories of Human Nature (6th ed). New York: oxford * http://home.earthlink.net/~bmgei/educate/docs/aperson/wisdom/wisdom.htm#Characteristics * http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/wisdom/ * http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Wisdom+(philosophy)