Dictionary:
wis·dom (wĭz'dəm)  |
[Middle English, from Old English wīsdōm.]
| Thesaurus: wisdom |
noun
| Encyclopedia of Judaism: Wisdom |
Throughout the generations, the highest Jewish ideal has been the Talmid ḥakham, the wise scholar erudite in Torah scholarship. By the same token, the ignoramus, the Am Ha-Arets, has always been regarded with scorn, one reason being that "an ignorant person cannot be pious" (Avot 2:6), for he lacks the requisite knowledge to fulfill the commandments properly. Respect for the wise is not limited to those wise in Jewish learning. A special blessing is prescribed upon seeing a man who is exceptionally wise in other fields. This blessing thanks God for "having given of His wisdom to flesh and blood." The comparable blessing upon seeing a talmid ḥakham is, "Who has apportioned of His wisdom to those who fear Him."
As important as is wisdom, it must be tempered with the fear of God, for "the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord" (Ps. 111:10). Furthermore, "A man whose fear of sin is greater than his wisdom---his wisdom will endure; and the man whose wisdom exceeds his fear of sin---his wisdom will not endure" (Avot 3:9).
Innate wisdom is regarded as a gift from God, and as such not praiseworthy in itself. It is what the person does with this ability that makes the difference: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom ... but only in this should one glory: In his earnest devotion to Me" (Jer. 9:22).
The Midrash differentiates between secular wisdom, which it callḥokhmah, and Torah wisdom, stating that if one is told that the other nations have ḥokhmah, he may believe it, but he should not believe that the other nations have Torah (Lam. R. 2:17).
In the Kabbalah, one of the ten Sefirot or attributes of God, is ḥokhmah, wisdom.
| Bible Guide: Wisdom |
The Bible censured pagan wisdom as inferior (Gen chap. 41; Ex 7:8-9:12; Dan chaps. 2-4) and the prophets were especially critical (Is 19:3-4,11-12; Jer 50:35-36; Ezek 28:1-19). Nevertheless the Bible is open to pagan wisdom (see WISDOM LITERATURE).
In the spirit of authentic biblical wisdom, the prophets criticized the false wisdom of royal counselors (Jer 8:8-9; 9:22-23 but see Prov 21:30; 26:12; 28:11). In the NT, part of Jesus' preaching is sapiential (Matt chaps. 5-7, John chap. 6); his parables also are related to wisdom and some of his sentences are true proverbs (Matt 16:25; 22:21; 26:52; Acts 20:35).
The Bible connected the growth of wisdom in Israel with Solomon (I Kgs chaps. 3-10). Seeking and gaining wisdom from God (I Kgs 5:12), he became a skillful judge, a great organizer and builder, and a truly international figure. Proverbs and the Song of Solomon are literally ascribed to him and he is traditionally regarded as the author of Ecclesiastes; in the NT, he is recalled as an ideal sage (Matt 12:42). Like Hezekiah subsequently, Solomon probably had wise men and scribes at his court (Prov 25:1). But, as elsewhere, Israel's wisdom stemmed principally from the common people; there are proverbs which come, not from the court, but from the villages and countryside (II Sam chap. 14; Prov 14:4; Jer 31:29). The wise men of the royal court would have collected this popular wisdom and reorganized it for publication.
Gifted individuals, exercising patient observation, noted the repetition of certain phenomena in nature, or in human existence, to uncover the principles which rule the apparent multiplicity of the same experience; moreover, they succeeded in expressing these principles in a pithy, well-balanced sentence, pleasant to the ear and provoking reflection with its enigmatic aspect; these sentences, accepted and repeated by generations, were finally included in an official collection which became part of the Bible.
The wise strove above all to comprehend the reality of the world, of things and of man; they were convinced that reality is subject to rules which can be recognized and expressed by man. The wise men studied reality in its entirety, without distinction between religious and profane, being equally interested in both. Once put in writing, their wisdom became the standard in regulating the conduct of society.
The path of the wise differs from that of the king, the priest or the prophet. He remains a seeker, being aware of the limits of his knowledge. For people trying to observe and understand, reality often retains its mystery – hence, the reserve of the wise (Prov 16:1; 19:14; 20:24; 21:31; 26:12). Altogether true wisdom has to deny itself (Prov 21:30), for understanding is the preserve of the Lord, the creator and guide of history. Only in the 8th century B.C. is the wisdom of God mentioned explicitly (Job 12:13; Ps 104:24; Is 11:2; 31:2; Jer 10:12), even if divine wisdom was acknowledged in David (II Sam 14:20) and in Solomon (I Kgs 3:28) and in the special wisdom of a leader (Deut 34:9).
Proverbs proposes a religious synthesis of Israelite wisdom in the famous sentence: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10). But because it made too close a connection between virtuous life and happiness on earth, or between misfortune and sin (Prov 3:33; 10:3), OT didactic wisdom went into a crisis, which was expressed in the speculative Wisdom Books of Job and Ecclesiastes. Only in a late Greek book included in the Septuagint, Widsom of Solomon chapters 1-6, does a new solution appear with the afterlife's retribution.
In certain texts of the Hebrew Bible, wisdom is personified. In Proverbs 1:20-33; 8:9 ff, she speaks publicly: firstborn of the Lord, she was with him when he put order and stability in the world (see also Job 28:23-27). She is also counselor of the rulers of society, and therefore she summons all to hear her and follow her advice. Later Wisdom works, translated into Greek in the Septuagint, Ben Sira chapter 24 and Baruch 3:9-4:4, perceive the OT as the best expression of divine wisdom granted to Israel (see Deut 4:6), whereas Wisdom of Solomon chapters 6-10 interprets wisdom as the presence of God in the world and in the Just.
In the NT these various functions of wisdom are ascribed to Jesus. He also summons people to follow him (Matt 11:28-30), in him is a higher wisdom (Matt 7:29; 11:19; 12:42); through him all was created (John 1:2-4; Col 1:16); being created before all things they hold together in him (Col 1:15, 17); he came from above and he is true food, like wisdom (John 6:32-58). Paul adds that the cross which Jesus endured elucidated God's wisdom, which accepts what is against human pretensions (I Cor 1:17-3:23); the permanence of Israel, with its refusal to acknowledge the messiah in Jesus, is a part of the mysterious wisdom of God (Rom 11:33).
| Philosophy Dictionary: wisdom |
The traditional goal of philosophy, considered to be some amalgam of knowledge, spiritual profundity, Stoical ability to put up with the evils of the world, and practical ability or phronesis. The
| Word Tutor: wisdom |
If you succeed in judging yourself rightly, then you are indeed a man of true wisdom.
— A. de Saint-Exupery.
| Quotes About: Wisdom |
Quotes:
"We cannot advance without new experiments in living, but no wise man tries every day what he has proved wrong the day before."
- James Truslow Adams
"Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life."
- Aristophanes
"Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know -- and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use it to destroy ourselves? Even if that is so, knowledge remains better than ignorance. It is better to know -- even if the knowledge endures only for the moment that comes before destruction -- than to gain eternal life at the price of a dull and swinish lack of comprehension of a universe that swirls unseen before us in all its wonder. That was the choice of Achilles, and it is mine, too."
- Isaac Asimov
"The wise man sees in the misfortune of others what he should avoid."
- Marcus Aurelius
"In seeking wisdom thou art wise; in imagining that thou hast attained it, thou art a fool."
- Rabbi Ben Azai
"There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool."
- Francis Bacon
See more famous quotes about Wisdom
| Wikipedia: Wisdom |
Wisdom is an ideal that has been celebrated since antiquity as the knowledge needed to live a good life. What this means exactly depends on the various wisdom schools and traditions claiming to help foster it. In general, these schools have emphasized various combinations of the following: knowledge, understanding, experience, discretion, and intuitive understanding, along with a capacity to apply these qualities well towards finding solutions to problems. In many traditions, the terms wisdom and intelligence have somewhat overlapping meanings; in others they are arranged hierarchically, with intelligence being necessary but not sufficient for wisdom.
Psycanics offers a definition that also serves to make wisdom measurable: "The ability in life to predict the consequences of one's (or others') actions "
Neo-Platonists like Cusanus, endorsed a 'docta ignorantia' in which the greatest wisdom was to recognize one's own ignorance of the divine.
According to Rice (1958) two wisdom traditions can be identified in the Renaissance: Contemplative and prudential. Contemplative traditions, such as monastic traditions, emphasized meditation on one's own experience as a pathway to the divine: Augustine of Hippo was an early and influential figure in the Christian lineage of this tradition. The status of wisdom or prudence as a virtue is recognized in cultural, philosophical and religious sources as the judicious and purposeful application of knowledge that is valued in society. Charron (1601) was an influential Renaissance proponent of this wisdom tradition .
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Psychologists have gathered data on commonly held beliefs or folk theories about wisdom.[1] These analyses indicate that although "there is an overlap of the implicit theory of wisdom with intelligence, perceptiveness, spirituality and shrewdness, it is evident that wisdom is a distinct term and not a composite of other terms."[2]
Many, but not all, studies find that adults' self-ratings of perspective/wisdom do not depend on age.[3][4] This stands in contrast to the popular notion that wisdom increases with age.[4] In 2009, a study reviewed which brain components were related to wisdom.[5]
Researchers in positive psychology have defined wisdom as the coordination of "knowledge and experience" and "its deliberate use to improve well being."[6] With this definition, wisdom can supposedly be measured using the following criteria.[3]
Measurement instruments that use these criteria have acceptable to good internal consistency and low test-retest reliability (r in the range of 0.35 to 0.67).[3]
Some religions have specific teachings relating to wisdom.
In the Christian Bible and Jewish scripture, wisdom is represented by the sense of justice of the lawful and wise king Solomon, who asks God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3. Much of the Book of Proverbs, a book of wise sayings, is attributed to Solomon. In Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10, the fear of the Lord is called the beginning or foundation of wisdom while Proverbs 8:13 declares "To fear the Lord is to hate evil". In Proverbs 1:20, there is also reference to wisdom personified in female form, "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares."
Furthermore, there is an oppositional element in Christian thought between secular wisdom and Godly wisdom. The apostle Paul states that worldly wisdom thinks the claims of Christ to be foolishness. However, to those who are being saved Christ represents the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-31) Also, Wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit according to Anglican, Catholic, and Lutheran belief. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 gives an alternate list of nine virtues, among which wisdom is one.
In Islam, according to the Qur'an, all of the prophets of the Old Testament, Jesus, as well as the Prophet Muhammad were chosen by Allah, mostly in times of political or moral crisis, to represent his wisdom. The Prophet Muhammad said that: "Fearing Allah in your actions and intentions, and knowing that Almighty Allah is watching you wherever and whenever you are is the head/peak of wisdom"[citation needed]. In addition, Islam also mentions that a wise man with the name of Luqman once told his son to: "Sit with the learned men and keep close to them. Allah gives life to the hearts with the light of wisdom as Allah gives life to the dead earth with the abundant rain of the sky"[1].
Confucius stated that wisdom can be learned by three methods: Reflection (the noblest), imitation (the easiest) and experience (the bitterest). Wisdom is not told by self but unless asked for by another. This means a wise man never tells his wisdom unless asked person to person. According to "Doctrine of the Mean," Confucius also said, "Love of learning is akin to wisdom. To practice with vigor is akin to humanity. To know to be shameful is akin to courage (zhi,ren,yi..three of Mengzi's sprouts of virtue)." Compare this with the beginning of the Confucian classic "Great Learning" which begins with "The Way of learning to be great consists in manifesting the clear character, loving the people, and abiding in the highest good" one can clearly see the correlation with the Roman virtue "prudence," especially if one transliterates clear character as clear conscience. (Quotes from Chan's Sources of Chinese Philosophy).
Buddha taught that a wise person is endowed with good bodily conduct, good verbal conduct & good mental conduct (AN 3:2) and a wise person does actions that are unpleasant to do but give good results and doesn’t do actions that are pleasant to do but give bad results (AN 4:115). The Buddha has much to say on the subject of wisdom including:
In Taoism Practical Wisdom may be described as knowing what to say and when to say it.
In Mesopotamian religion and mythology, Enki, also known as Ea, was the God of wisdom and intelligence. Wisdom was achieved by restoring balance.
In Norse mythology, the god Odin is especially known for his wisdom, often acquired through various hardships and ordeals involving pain and self-sacrifice. In one instance he plucked out an eye and offered it to Mímir, guardian of the well of knowledge and wisdom, in return for a drink from the well.[11] In another famous account, Odin hanged himself for nine nights from Yggdrasil, the World Tree that unites all the realms of existence, suffering from hunger and thirst and finally wounding himself with a spear until he gained the knowledge of runes for use in casting powerful magic.[12] He was also able to acquire the mead of poetry from the giants, a drink of which could grant the power of a scholar or poet, for the benefit of gods and mortals alike.[11]
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A standard philosophical definition says that wisdom consists of making the best use of available knowledge. As with any decision, a wise decision may be made with incomplete information[citation needed]. The technical philosophical term for the opposite of wisdom is folly.[citation needed]
In his Metaphysics, Aristotle defines wisdom as knowledge of causes: why things exist in a particular fashion.
In addition to experience there are a variety of other avenues to gaining wisdom. For example, Freethinkers and others believe that wisdom may come from pure reason and perhaps experience, while others believe that it comes from intuition or spirituality.[citation needed]
Beginning with the ancient Greeks, European culture associates wisdom with virtue. Metis and Athene are associated with wisdom from earliest times. For example, many philosophers talk about the virtue of wisdom in relation to courage and moderation, and in the Roman Catholic church, wisdom (Prudence) stands with justice, fortitude and moderation as one of the four cardinal virtues. Plato's dialogues mention the virtue of wisdom, as knowledge about the Good and the courage to act accordingly. The Good would be about the right relations between all that exists. The Good, as a Platonic Form, would involve the perfect ideas of good government, love, friendship, community, and a right relation to the Divine. Perhaps the search or love of wisdom is more important than any proven claim. Socrates only claimed to know that he did not know, but this he was very certain of, and he showed the many contradictions in the claims of his fellow citizens.[13]
In the Inuit tradition, developing wisdom was the aim 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.[14]
Holists believe that wise people sense, work with and align themselves and others to life. In this view, wise people help others appreciate the fundamental interconnectedness of life[citation needed].
Nicholas Maxwell, a modern philosopher, argued that the basic aim of academic inquiry ought to be to seek and promote wisdom — wisdom being construed to be the capacity to realize what is of value in life for oneself and others, wisdom thus including knowledge and technological know-how, but much else besides.[15]
Freduci Philomathis, "What is this thing called wisdom?", Journal Behind the State of the Art, Maybell, Colorado, 2006, p.1.
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| Translations: Wisdom |
Dansk (Danish)
n. - visdom, klogskab
idioms:
Nederlands (Dutch)
wijsheid, levenswijsheid
Français (French)
n. - sagesse
idioms:
Deutsch (German)
n. - Weisheit, Klugheit
idioms:
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - σοφία, σύνεση, φρόνηση, φρονιμάδα, γνώση, κοινός νους
idioms:
idioms:
Português (Portuguese)
n. - sabedoria (f), bom senso (m)
idioms:
Русский (Russian)
мудрость, здравый смысл, ученость
idioms:
Español (Spanish)
n. - sabiduría, juicio, cordura
idioms:
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - vishet, visdom
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
智慧, 学识, 明智的行为
idioms:
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 智慧, 學識, 明智的行為
idioms:
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 賢いこと, 知恵, 分別, 学問, 知識
idioms:
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) معرفه, عقل, حكمه
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - חוכמה, תבונה, בינה
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